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January 2016

RICHMOND – State officials from both political parties have reached a sweeping compromise on gun laws that would continue Virginia’s agreements with other states regarding concealed carry permits, prevent the subjects of protective orders from possessing guns and encourage, but not require, background checks at gun shows.

“I have always believed that these gun issues are nonpartisan issues and there is room for more bipartisan cooperation in reaching this goal,” McAuliffe, a Democrat.

House Speaker William Howell, a Republican from Fredericksburg, agreed. He credited McAuliffe, Attorney General Mark Herring and Brian Moran, the state’s secretary of public safety, as well as GOP leaders such as Sen. Bryce Reeves of Fredericksburg and Del. L. Scott Lingamfelter of Woodbridge.

“This is not an area where many people would have predicted an accord, but we are here because of their hard work,” Howell said.

In the deal, each side got something: Republicans got Herring to reverse his decision to revoke the reciprocal agreements Virginia has with 25 states on honoring one another’s concealed handgun permits. And Democrats got Republicans to restrict access to firearms in domestic violence situations and possibly expand criminal background checks at firearms shows.

“Protecting reciprocity for Virginia’s law-abiding citizens was a major priority for the House of Delegates,” Howell said. “We have achieved an agreement that will ensure the constitutional rights of Virginians are protected. We are also sending a clear signal about the mutual willingness of both parties to protect victims of domestic violence. This a good deal for the commonwealth.”

McAuliffe and other officials discussed the agreement at a press conference at the state Capitol. The atmosphere was lighthearted and joyful – leaving little room for disagreement.

“I have been elected to the Senate of Virginia for the last 25 years, and this is the best press conference I have attended,” Sen. Louise Lucas, D-Portsmouth, said as she was leaving the event. “This is historic. This is something we have been working on ever since I have been here. So I am just so grateful that I survived long enough to see it.”

McAuliffe praised the bipartisan spirit of the agreement.

“No one wants to see guns in the hands of domestic abusers or other dangerous individuals. It is our responsibility as elected leaders to work together in a commonsense way to provide public safety,” he said.

“The measures we are announcing today will save lives. It is that simple.”

Added Reeves: “When you shelve politics and put it aside, it’s amazing what you can accomplish.”

The agreement came about a month after Herring said Virginia would revoke its agreements to recognize the concealed weapons permits issued by 25 states, including North Carolina, Tennessee and Kentucky. Herring said those states did not meet Virginia’s standards in deciding who qualifies for a concealed carry permit.

Herring’s decision outraged Republicans. Just last week, Lingamfelter sent an open letter to McAuliffe, urging him to delay revocation of the reciprocal agreements.

Under the pact announced Friday, McAuliffe agreed to sign Senate Bill 610, a bill Reeves is sponsoring to reverse Herring’s decision. SB 610 would continue “reciprocity for all states with a concealed carry permitting process.”

But McAuliffe said it also would prevent “state shopping”: “If a person has ever been revoked in Virginia, they cannot go to another state to get a permit and have that permit be recognized in Virginia.”

Also as part of the agreement, the Republican-controlled General Assembly would pass legislation sponsored by Sen. Janet Howell, D-Reston. SB 49 would prohibit a person subject to a permanent protective order from possessing a firearm for the duration of the order. Failing to comply with the law would be a class 6 felony.

McAuliffe said the legislation would plug a “gaping loophole that needed to be filled.” Current law states that a person who is the subject of a protective order may not buy a firearm but still may possess one.

In 2014, Virginia recorded 112 deaths involving family or domestic disputes. Sixty-six of the victims were killed were by guns.

“If we can save just one life, we need to do so,” McAuliffe said.

Under the third part of the agreement, the General Assembly would pass and McAuliffe would sign HB 1386, sponsored by Lingamfelter, and SB 715, by Sen. John Edwards, D-Roanoke. These bills address voluntary background checks at firearms shows.

Currently, only federally licensed firearms dealers must perform background checks on people who want to buy guns. The legislation would authorize the Virginia State Police to perform background checks on behalf of private citizens selling guns at the shows.

“This bill requires the Virginia State Police to be present at every firearms show in the Commonwealth to perform background checks on a voluntary basis,” the agreement stated.

WASHINGTON – Constance Garner works two jobs while attending college, but her long hours aren’t to line her pockets with extra beer money.

Garner, a Longwood University senior, expects to graduate owing more than $35,000 in student debt; she works two jobs on campus to cover room and board.

“I am from a very small town in southern Virginia where students are lucky to receive any type of higher education, much less a bachelor’s degree from a four-year institution,” Garner said.

Stories like hers aren’t uncommon – and last week, U.S. Sens. Mark Warner and Tim Kaine, both former governors of Virginia, hosted a roundtable discussion in the nation’s capital with student leaders from 20 Virginia colleges to discuss the increasing financial burdens of pursuing higher education.

“Sen. Warner and I hosted this roundtable to hear directly from student leaders at universities and colleges across Virginia on ways we can help alleviate the burden of student loan debt, which has surpassed credit card debt in America,” Kaine said.

Nationwide, Americans owe more than $1.3 trillion in student loan debt, which is more accumulated non-mortgage debt than credit cards and auto loans, according to the Federal Reserve.

Warner noted that about 60 percent of Virginia college students graduate with student debt and that the average debt load in Virginia now tops $26,000 per graduate.

“As the first person in my family to complete college, I know that if I had graduated with today’s levels of student debt, I would not have had opportunities to try – and to fail – with several of my early business ventures,” Warner said.

Kaine and Warner, both of them Democrats, have worked to pass bipartisan legislation in Washington. For example, Warner has teamed with Florida Sen. Marco Rubio, a Republican presidential candidate, to sponsor the “Student Right to Know Before You Go Act,” which would provide tools for comparing colleges and universities on measures such as total cost, likelihood of graduating and potential earnings.

The issue of college affordability varies by state and by institution. Virginia’s 15 public four-year colleges and universities and 24 community colleges depend on funding in the state budget approved by the General Assembly.

This year is critical for higher education, as legislators consider Gov. Terry McAuliffe’s proposed 2016-18 budget.

A poll released in January by the Commonwealth Educational Policy Institute at Virginia Commonwealth University found solid public support for financing both K-12 and higher education.

“Most people don’t think current high school graduates are ready to succeed in the workplace,” said Robyn McDougle, CEPI interim executive director. “For some, attending college is the next key step toward a career, but these responses suggest that the public supports a high school structure that provides career skills that match up with a student’s vision for his or her future and the needs of employers.”

According to the institute’s survey, about two-thirds of Virginians think high school graduates are not prepared for the workplace but are prepared for college. More than 70 percent of respondents support restructuring high school to make employer-aligned skill sets for a student’s desired career the focus of grades 11 and 12.

The poll indicated that the public sees community colleges as an advantage in adequately preparing students for the workforce. Almost three-fourths of the respondents said community college graduates are ready to join the workforce; a slightly higher proportion said the same thing of graduates of four-year colleges and universities.

Under McAuliffe’s proposed budget, education and health and human services would receive the most sizable portions of state funding in the upcoming biennium.

“I don’t know that it’ll help things go over more smoothly, but it’s always good to have nonpartisan data,” McDougle said.

McDougle said that in creating the poll, the CEPI collaborated with Peter Blake, director of the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia, and Anne Holton, Virginia’s secretary of education.

“Following the economic recession, our schools have been struggling to do more and more with less and less,” she said.

Holton said McAuliffe has traversed Virginia and heard from teachers, students and parents concerned about the future of education in Virginia.

“That is why his proposed budget includes over $1 billion in new, innovative investments for our public schools, colleges and universities,” Holton said. “The governor and I are committed to improving educational opportunities, supporting our fantastic educators and paving the way for every student to succeed in the new Virginia economy.”

Higher education officials hope this legislative session goes more smoothly than two years ago when a partisan stalemate over the state budget for the 2014-16 biennium prompted schools to increase tuition and fees across the board.

Due to the legislative impasse, public colleges and universities had to adopt their budgets for the 2014-15 school year not knowing how much funding the state would give them.

As a result, VCU raised tuition and fees 3.3 percent for in-state students – and that was the smallest boost among the state’s major research universities. The increase was 4.3 percent at the University of Virginia, 4.8 percent at George Mason University and 4.9 percent at Virginia Tech.

Later in 2014, things got even worse. The state government discovered it had a budget shortfall of $880 million, and McAuliffe ordered state institutions to cut their budgets 5 percent for fiscal year 2015 and 7 percent for the following year.

VCU President Michael Rao relayed the bad news in an email to the university community: “Now we face $8.75 million in cuts to the budget for the fiscal year that has already begun, increasing to $12.25 million in cuts for fiscal year 2016.”

College officials hope to avoid similar problems during the next budget cycle.

RICHMOND – Virginia watermen can heave a sigh of relief after a legislator withdrew his bill to increase the cost to lease the bottom of state-owned waterways for growing oysters and clams.

Perhaps one of Virginia’s best bargains, the annual right for leasing oyster planting grounds will remain only $1.50 per acre. Senate Bill 298, proposed by Sen. Bill DeSteph, R-Virginia Beach, would have raised the annual rent to $5,000 per acre for leasing planting grounds within 1,000 feet of shoreline residences.

DeSteph withdrew the bill Thursday at a meeting of the Senate Agriculture, Conservation and Natural Resources Committee. SB 298 is one of several bills introduced by DeSteph that were prompted by waterfront homeowner complaints that oyster farms have encroached on their properties and recreational use of the water.

To work out these issues, the Virginia Marine Resource Commission decided this week to enact a seven-month pause on new and pending lease applications for commercial and riparian leases within the Lynnhaven River system. The VMRC is forming a task force to study conflicts between commercial aquaculture leaseholders and other users of the waterways. The study will look at include recreational uses, navigation issues, privacy issues, property rights and property values.

“The No. 1 job of elected officials is the safety and security of our citizens,” DeSteph said in a statement Friday.

“We must find a balance between public safety, commercial and recreational use of our waterways. To do this, we need to devote the time necessary to have a discussion with all interested parties and determine the appropriate course of action.”

The VRMC action partially accomplishes what DeSteph and a fellow Republican, Del. Jason Miyares of Virginia Beach, sought in a bill they had co-sponsored: SB 254. It proposed suspending until July 1, 2017, the assignment or transfer by the VRMC of general oyster grounds in the Lynnhaven River or its tributaries.

“My goal with introducing this legislation was to get this conversation started,” DeSteph said. He withdrew SB 254 on Thursday.

Miyares said, “Through the VMRC task force, I am confident we can create an appropriate balance among all stakeholders in the Lynnhaven River system for the betterment of our community.”

People who work in Virginia’s seafood industry were happy to see SB 298 withdrawn.

Lake Cowart is the owner of Cowart Seafood Corp. in Lottsburg, a community in Northumberland County, which borders the Chesapeake Bay. He said he knew SB 298 would never pass.

“To begin with, there’s not an acre of oyster lease in the state of Virginia that anybody would be willing to even pay $5,000 an acre in long term, much less $5,000 a year to lease one acre,” Cowart said. “It would put the oyster industry totally out of business. The number is so ridiculous it’s not even funny.”

Cowart said the VMRC task force has potential for allowing oyster growers and property owners to work out their differences.

“If in fact the VMRC can help the property owners and the oyster growers in Lynnhaven work through their problems, we shouldn’t have bills like this in the future,” Cowart said.

“The goal is for MRC to intervene, which it already has done, and set up a work group that can give and take, work out their differences. Not everyone is going to come away happy, but at least they’ll hopefully be happier than they were to start with.”

Henry James Barnes, 81, of Emporia, passed away peacefully surrounded by his children on Friday, January 29, 2016. The son of the late Henry Walter Barnes and Louise Poarch Barnes, he also was preceded in death by his step-mother, Velma Barnes; the mother of his children, Yvonne Barnes Willson; one son, Kevin Harrison Barnes; three sisters, Elsie Barnes Gillam, Ruth Barnes Bradley and Sandra Crews and two brothers, Steve Barnes and James Goins.

Mr. Barnes is survived by a daughter, Sherry Barnes Roth and husband, Thomas of Rush, NY; son, Stuart James Barnes of Gaston, NC; three grandchildren, Choe Barnes Huskey of Emporia, Angela Roth Sullivan and husband, Jeremy of Tryon, NC and Korey Roth of Rush, NY; three sisters, Betty Moss of Richmond, Belvia West of New Kent County and Wanda Barnes of SC; two brothers, Wayne Goins and Roger Goins of Richmond; a special friend, BettSasser of Emporia and a number of nieces and nephews.

The family will receive friends 6-8 p.m. Tuesday, February 2 at Owen Funeral Home, 303 S. Halifax Rd, Jarratt, Virginia where the funeral service will be held 2 p.m. Wednesday, February 3. Interment will follow at Emporia Cemetery. Memorial contributions may be made to Calvary Baptist Church. Online condolences may be made at www.owenfh.com.

Lazers Track Club member, Isaiah Stephens, 6th grader at E. W. Wyatt Middle School started his Indoor Track season with a gold medal . On January 17, 2016, Isaiah participated in a competition at Boo Williams Sportsplex in Hampton, VA. Stephens won 1st place of the 11-12 Boys Division in the Shot Put with a toss of 34 ½ feet.

Stephens and his mother, La-Tina Smith give glory and honor to GOD for all of his accomplishments. They also give special thanks to his coaches, Les Young and Bill Cain.

Franklin Lee Grizzard, 88, of Jarratt, VA was surrounded by his family on January 29, 2016 as he went to meet his Lord and Savior. He was preceded in death by his parents, Frank David and Winifred Williams Grizzard and great grandson, Lyle Hayes Grizzard. He is survived by his loving wife of 64 years, Lois Leeds StarkeGrizzard; his son, Michael L. Grizzard and loving companion, Ann Taylor; his daughters, Pamela Ann GrizzardRosanelli, Tina Leeds GrizzardAutry and her husband, Jerry; grandchildren, Michael Lee Grizzard, II and his wife, Kristen, Matthew Nelson Grizzard and his wife Alison, Chase Stewart Autry, Cabell Thomas Rosanelli and his wife, Jamie, and Stephanie Blair Autry; great grandchildren, Kellan Michael Grizzard, Violet Jane Grizzard, Alden Lee Grizzard and Linden JoahGrizzard. Franklin is also survived by his brother, David A. Grizzard, and two sisters-in-law, Pauline S. Adams and Carolyn S. Ankermiller.

Franklin was always a hard worker and left schooling in the seventh grade to help his father on the farm in Southampton County. He was honorably discharged from the Army in 1951 during the Korean War. He also served in WWII.

He met “the prettiest red head in three counties” in 1947, and, after their first date, Franklin told his friends he was going to marry Lois. They started their family in Jarratt, VA in 1951.

Franklin was a life-long contractor who was a master in his craft. He never stopped until his work was perfect. He and his brother-in-law, Joe Adams, started Adams & Grizzard in 1956 and operated for 33 years. Franklin and his son, Mike, began Grizzard Construction, Inc. in 1990 and worked side by side every day. Franklin and Mike were especially proud of the many churches they built in the local communities. Franklin never really liked retirement and always wanted to go on the job site one more time. He loved to teach his family members about the construction business, and now they all have an eye for quality building skills; they can pinpoint half-inch discrepancies because Franklin taught them so well.

Franklin loved spending time with his family, especially if a meal was involved. He would eat until he was “about ready to pop” and then he would continue to eat; even so, he always left room for dessert. Seafood was one of his favorites, and Lois always knew how to fix the meals just like he liked them.

Franklin was a Boy Scout Leader, Sunday School Teacher, Deacon and Trustee of High Hills Baptist Church, fireman with Jarratt Volunteer Fire Department, and member of the Jarratt American Legion.

The family will receive friends at Owen Funeral Home in Jarratt, VA on January 31, 2016 from 2-4 and 6-8.

Services will be held on February 1, 2016 at 11:00 am at High Hills Baptist Church with burial at High Hills Baptist Church Cemetery.

Memorial Donations can be made to High Hills Baptist Church, Adams Grove Baptist Church or Main Street Baptist Church, Emporia, VA.

RICHMOND – The 80-gallon cauldron of Brunswick stew was empty after just an hour and a half on Wednesday morning, feeding members of the General Assembly and Richmond residents who arrived early enough to indulge in the thick, creamy dish.

The spicy and complex aroma drifted from the small tent positioned between the General Assembly Building and the state Capitol. People didn’t need directions where to go: They could just follow their nose across the Capitol grounds.

“Better get there early,” said lobbyist Mark Hubbard, who did not arrive early enough to receive a bowl of stew and saltine crackers, “And I do work for Brunswick County.”

Brunswick Stew Day is an annual event at Capital Square, celebrating the signature dish of Brunswick County, located in southern Virginia bordering North Carolina.

The stew is free to the public but mostly serves state legislators. Several pounds were packaged to take directly to the House and Senate.

“I think we needed two pots this year,” said volunteer Bernard Jones, a member of the Town Council of Lawrenceville, the seat of Brunswick County. Jones said this is the first time in his 12 years of volunteering at Brunswick Stew Day to see the stew run out so quickly.

Brunswick Stew Day features the first-place winner from the Taste of Brunswick Festival, which is held every October in Brunswick County. Last October, Clark Bennett received that honor (for the second time). And so he was the stew master for Brunswick Stew Day 2016.

The winning stew crew from the Taste of Brunswick Festival receives a small cash prize and a large wooden paddle to stir the pot. The winners also cook their recipe for the General Assembly on the fourth Wednesday in January during its legislative session.

The Taste of Brunswick Festival can have more than 30 stew crews competing, and every year the winning stew tastes different. B.K. Roberts, Brunswick County’s sheriff for the past eight years, is also a stew judge. At last fall’s festival, Roberts voted for Bennett’s stew crew because “it packed a little heat” – a quality the sheriff especially appreciates while judging stews.

Bennett’s stew crew for Brunswick Stew Day consisted of three friends: Caleb Hinkle, Michael Wright and Kyle Gee. They called themselves the Danieltown Stew Crew, from Alberta, Va.

Bennett’s father, Billy, who was also a stew master, tragically died in a car accident in 2004, but Bennett has pushed forward and continued his father’s culinary legacy. On a banner in the tent on Wednesday, the Danieltown Stew Crew dedicated the stew “in loving memory of Billy Bennett.”

Bennett would not disclose his secret ingredients. While cooking, he meticulously watched the stew for any imperfections, such as bruised potatoes or clumped spices. He would point them out, and one of his three sous-chefs would remove the offending items with a cooking tong. Bennett wanted his stew immaculate.

It should also be mentioned that the stew had been marinating for a good eight hours before it was served and had to be stirred constantly. “Or else it will burn,” Bennett said, “and I’m not planning on it burning.”

What’s the history of Brunswick stew? The story around the campfire goes like this:

In the 1820s, Dr. Creed Hoskins, a member of the Virginia House of Delegates, and several friends were out hunting in Brunswick County while their camp cook, Jimmy Mathews, made their supper. Mathews grabbed what he had and put it in a pot: squirrel meat, butter, onions and stale bread. The rest is history.

Some of the original ingredients have since been replaced with more common items, like poultry and vegetables. Brunswick County proudly stakes claim to the original birthplace of the thick, historic stew.

Just as oysters are to New Orleans, said Bobby Conner, project manager for the Brunswick County/Lake Gaston Tourism Association, the group that organizes Brunswick Stew Day. “Brunswick stew is unique to Virginia.”

But as a location, the word Brunswick is not unique. There is a Brunswick County in North Carolina and a city named Brunswick in Georgia.

“Georgia always wants to take credit for Brunswick stew,” laughed Lawrenceville Mayor Bill Herrington, who volunteered his time at Wednesday’s event. But rest assured, he said, Virginia is the real birthplace of the stew.

Virginia legislators think so, too. In 1988, the General Assembly proclaimed Virginia as the stew’s “place of origin” and the stew itself as an “astonishing gastronomical miracle.”

“I don’t care where it’s made,” Bennett said. He said Georgia’s Brunswick stew contains more meat products such as steak, beef and Boston butt (a cut of pork) and has a very barbeque flavor. “The two stews are just different – pizza and noodles.”

Bennett began serving his stew at 11 a.m., and people quickly started lining up outside the tent. One early arrival was Anne Holton, Virginia’s secretary of education. She is a “huge fan” of Brunswick stew.

Holton said she often travels with her husband – U.S. Sen. Tim Kaine, a former Virginia governor – to Brunswick County, and not only for political reasons. “It’s mainly for the stew,” Holton admitted, laughing.

The General Assembly officially established Brunswick Stew Day on the Capitol grounds in 2002 by passing House Resolution 2. It was sponsored by Del. Tommy Wright, who is from Lunenburg County, Brunswick’s next-door neighbor.

Wright dropped by the tent on Wednesday to stir the pot, literally, and of course enjoy a cup of stew.

“We all at the General Assembly really look forward to this,” Wright said, smiling. “We intend on doing this forever.”

RICHMOND – At 15 years old, Gavin Grimm stood before the Gloucester County School Board – twice – and listened to community members discuss his anatomy in a public forum.

“I was terrified,” Grimm, now in his junior year at Gloucester High School, said this week. “I was in a room full of adults who thought it appropriate to have this sort of vulgar discussion, who would clap or cheer after every derogatory statement, of which there were many.”

Grimm lives and identifies as male – and has been taking hormone therapy as recommended treatment for gender dysphoria. But the Gloucester school system has prohibited him from using the boys’ restrooms at the high school.

On Wednesday, lawyers for the American Civil Liberties Union appeared before the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 4th Circuit to argue that the school district is violating Grimm’s constitutional rights by requiring transgender students to use “alternative, private” restrooms.

The ACLU, which represents Grimm, said Gloucester’s policy violates federal nondiscrimination laws under Title IX and the Fourteenth Amendment of the U.S. Constitution. This is the first time that a federal court of appeals is considering the issue.

“Both sides presented arguments, and we now have to wait for the court to issue a ruling,” said Bill Farrar, director of public relations at the ACLU of Virginia. “Our best guess is that will take a couple of months.”

As Grimm began his sophomore year in fall 2014, he and his mother notified school administrators about Grimm’s gender identity, and he was given permission to use the boys’ bathroom. Grimm did so for almost two months without any incident, according to a brief the ACLU filed with the 4th Circuit Court of Appeals.

But on Dec. 9, 2014, the School Board adopted the new policy by a vote of 6-1, and Grimm has had to use an isolated restroom in the nurse’s office ever since.

“The trek to the restroom in the nurse’s office each time it was necessary was similarly humiliating, similarly upsetting and ‘othering’ and dysphoria-inducing,” Grimm said in a statement Wednesday. “The only difference was that it was just slightly less conspicuous.”

Specifically, Grimm said the School Board passed a policy limiting the use of restroom facilities to students with “corresponding biological genders” and required students with “gender identity issues” to use alternative facilities.

“Even if we use the separate but equal framework, it’s clearly not equal,” Joshua Block, senior staff attorney for the ACLU, said at a press conference after the appeals court hearing. “It’s basically a restroom from a converted closet that only Gavin has to use because other people hypothetically object to using the same restroom as him.”

In June, the ACLU filed a motion for a preliminary injunction with the U.S. District Court in Newport News. It asked the court to rule in time for Grimm to be able to use the same restroom as other boys at Gloucester High School when classes resumed for the 2015-16 school year.

But in September, U.S. District Judge Robert Doumar denied the injunction and dismissed Grimm’s claim under Title IX. The ACLU appealed that ruling to the 4th Circuit Court in Richmond. A panel of three appellate judges – Paul Niemeyer, Henry Franklin Floyd and Andre Davis – heard the case Wednesday.

“Schools can and should have privacy protections, but what they can’t do is exclude transgender students,” Block told the judges during the 45-minute hearing.

Attorney David Corrigan, who represents the Gloucester School Board, said the school system’s policies are not discriminatory because the alternative unisex restrooms are open to anyone.

“Our position is that all students are treated the same,” he said.

After the hearing, Block described Grimm as a courageous young man.

“Gavin, before he met anyone from the ACLU, was standing up by himself at a School Board meeting in front of a room of hostile adults explaining why he should have the right everyone else has to use the bathroom in peace,” Block said.

Both the U.S. Department of Education and the U.S. Department of Justice have since ruled that, under Title IX of the U.S. Education Amendments of 1972, schools must allow transgender students to use the restrooms and locker rooms that are consistent with their gender identity.

“I am fighting this fight because no kid should have to think so hard about performing a basic and private function of being alive,” Grimm said. “No kid struggling to be accepted, and struggling to accept themselves, should have to simultaneously battle for the right to use the correct bathroom.”

The appeal in the Gloucester case comes on the heels of a landmark ruling by the Education Department in a similar case brought by the ACLU of Illinois. In that case, the Education Department held that a suburban Chicago school had violated federal law by denying a transgender female student access to gender-appropriate locker room facilities.

To date, several federal agencies – including the U.S. Labor Department, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration and the Office of Personnel Management – have agreed that transgender people should be able to use the restroom that corresponds with their gender identity.

“I can say I did not set out to make waves; I set out to use the bathroom,” Grimm said as he began tearing up at Wednesday’s press conference. “It is scary. And it’s not easy. But I will do my best to help anyone.”

RICHMOND – The black vulture of Virginia has found itself in the crosshairs of legislation passed by the Senate this week.

Senate Bill 37, sponsored by Sen. Bill Carrico, R-Grayson, seeks to exempt the black vulture from its current protection by the Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries. It also would prohibit the department from using any state resources to enforce federal rules that protect the black vulture.

The Senate voted 39-1 on Wednesday in favor of the bill. The lone dissenter was Sen. Creigh Deeds, D-Bath. SB 37 now goes to the House of Delegates for consideration.

Carrico said the vultures, which are protected under the federal Migratory Bird Treaty Act, have become a menace to farmers and their livelihoods.

“I was contacted by farmers from my district located in Lee County,” Carrico said in an e-mail. “They reported that the vultures were coming down and attacking the newborn calves.”

Carrico explained that many calves are unable to move for a few days after being born, almost giving the impression that they are dead or dying – which means they look like a meal to the vultures.

“This is a very common occurrence on cattle farms,” Carrico said. “The black vultures were coming down and plucking out the eyes and tearing out the guts of the calves while they laid there.”

Although his bill would legalize shooting black vultures, it doesn’t mean an all-out massacre of the birds, Carrico said.

“This is not a bill that would grant open season on vultures,” Carrico said. “The farmers simply wanted to be able to get a permit that says they can shoot the vultures endangering their livestock. The bill will only grant permission to kill the vultures if the farmer has a problem with them regarding his livestock. The farmer will also have to have a permit. I realize that vultures provide a service in nature, so this does not mean I do not think they should be protected.”

Marlene Condon, a nature writer and former field editor for Birds & Blooms magazine, isn’t convinced.

“I’m against this bill because the vultures are not at fault – the farmers are,” Condon said. “They’ve created unnatural conditions that have caused black vultures to themselves behave unnaturally by taking live animals.”

Condon believes that the solution is to change human behavior and that killing the vultures is out of the question.

“We’re in the 21st century, for goodness sake,” Condon said. “We should know better than to think we should kill animals when we could just change the way we do things.”

Condon noted the importance of vultures to the environment, as well as the dangers of not having them around.

“They mostly recycle putrefying remains that are so loaded with bacteria that feeding upon them would kill – not just sicken – most other kinds of animals, including humans,” Condon said. “When vulture populations plummeted in South Asia, it led to a rise in infectious diseases and a proliferation of rats as a result of carcasses left to rot on the ground.”

Condon chalked the bill and its supporters up to ignorance, quoting one of the Founding Fathers.

“As Ben Franklin said: ‘Being ignorant is not so much as a shame, as being unwilling to learn. We are all born ignorant, but one must work hard to remain stupid.’ ”

RICHMOND – Most Virginians support reinstating parole, treating juvenile offenders differently from adult criminals, and stopping people convicted of domestic violence from buying guns, according to the 2016 Commonwealth Poll.

The L. Douglas Wilder School of Government and Public Affairs at Virginia Commonwealth University, in conjunction with the office of the Virginia secretary of public safety and homeland security, released the survey findings Thursday.

Virginia banned parole in 1995. Last year, Gov. Terry McAuliffe established a commission to study possible improvements in the criminal justice system. In December, the panel suggested such initiatives as expanding mental health services, but it stopped short of recommending that parole be reinstated.

The statewide Commonwealth Poll found strong support across political parties and racial groups for reinstating parole. The idea had the support of:

76 percent of all Virginians

86 percent of Democrats

68 percent of Republicans

88 percent of black respondents

77 percent of white respondents

The survey also indicated strong support for changes in the juvenile justice system.

“We were very excited to find that over 80 percent favored or supported strongly the idea of reducing the use of large adult-sized facilities to house juvenile offenders and instead were very supportive of smaller community-based therapeutic centers,” said Robyn McDougle, faculty director of VCU’s Office of Public Policy Outreach.

According to the poll, 75 percent of Virginians agreed that youth convicted as adults should be eligible for parole. Support for this concept also cut across party lines. It was backed by:

88 percent of Democrats

75 percent of Republicans

78 percent of independents

Responses varied slightly among regions of the state. For example, 85 percent of respondents in Northern Virginia support parole for youth convicted as adults; in Western Virginia, the figure was 75 percent.

The poll also asked respondents whether people convicted of domestic violence or individuals with restraining orders against them should be allowed to purchase a gun. Most respondents – 64 percent – said no.

“Preventing gun violence is a priority for our governor. VCU’s poll shows that people across the commonwealth agree with the governor,” said Tonya Chapman, deputy secretary of public safety and homeland security.

“There have been several pieces of legislation introduced in an attempt to prevent an individual from possessing a weapon if there is an outstanding protective order or if an individual has been convicted of domestic violence.”

According to the survey, 74 percent of women support such a policy, compared with 55 percent of men.

The poll involved interviewing 930 adults across Virginia by landline and cellular phones. The survey has a margin of error of 3.7 percentage points.

RICHMOND – Despite concerns about fire safety, a Senate committee has recommended approval of a bill to legalize the sale of fireworks in Virginia.

The Senate Committee on General Laws and Technology voted 8-5 in favor of the legislation proposed by one of its members, Sen. Thomas Garrett, R-Hadensville. He said the bill could generate millions of dollars in sales taxes on a product he says is used illegally throughout the state anyway.

“Indiana opened the sale of consumer-grade fireworks, and in one year they created an $80 million impact on state revenue. They created about 2,000 full-time jobs, and they created about 8,000 seasonal jobs,” Garrett said during the committee’s meeting on Monday.

“Virginia is a bigger economy” than Indiana and could benefit even more, he said.

Garrett said his proposal – Senate Bill 208 – would also allow local governments in Virginia to decide for themselves if they want to allow the sale and use and sale of “consumer fireworks,” defined as “small fireworks devices containing restricted amounts of pyrotechnic composition designed primarily to produce visible or audible effects by combustion.” This category includes bottle rockets, Roman candles, air bombs and firecrackers, according to online retailers.

“The reality that no one can deny is we have these consumer-grade fireworks in Virginia already,” Garrett said. “People are already using these in Virginia. Why not bring the jobs and revenue to Virginia as localities decide?” Garrett said.

This is the third consecutive year the bill has come up in the Senate. The opposition centers on concern for public safety.

“During the past 10 years, 692 fires and 515 fireless explosions have been attributed to fireworks in the state of Virginia, as well as more than $1.5 million in total fire loss,” Melvin D. Carter, executive director of the Virginia Department of Fire Programs, told the committee.

He said the U.S. Consumer Products Safety Commission found that in 2014, 11 deaths and more than 10,000 injuries occurred as a results of fireworks-related accidents nationwide.

“Nearly half of all injuries were to people younger than 20 years of age,” Carter said.

More than a dozen other representatives of the Virginia Department of Fire Programs attended the meeting. State Fire Marshall Charles Altizer testified against the bill.

“What we’re proposing to allow will make [fireworks] much more readily available and make us more susceptible to misuse than you currently see … When you look nationwide, it’s still a critical issue,” Altizer said.

“The Consumer Products Safety Commission has said that fireworks are the most dangerous consumer product on the market.”

SB 208 would legalize the sale and possession of consumer fireworks in Virginia unless the local government decides otherwise. The bill would “prohibit any person younger than 18 years of age from purchasing fireworks and shall prohibit person younger than 18 years of age from possessing or using fireworks without adult supervision.”

Ultimately, eight members of the Senate Committee on General Laws and Technology voted in favor of the bill. Besides Garrett, they were Republican Sens. Frank Ruff of Clarksville, Jill Holtzman Vogel of Winchester, Richard Stuart of Montross, Richard Black of Leesburg, Bryce Reeves of Fredericksburg and David Suetterlein of Roanoke, as well as Democratic Sen. George Barker of Alexandria.

Five committee members voted against the bill. They were Democratic Sens. Mamie Locke of Hampton, Adam Ebbin of Alexandria, Jennifer Wexton of Leesburg and Jeremy McPike of Woodbridge, as well as Republican Sen. William DeSteph of Virginia Beach.

RICHMOND – A group of Virginia lawmakers called for legislation to reform Virginia’s “monopolistic” and “inefficient” health care system.

“With the Affordable Health Care act taking place several years ago, we’re hearing outcries from people about the high deductibles and the out-of-pocket costs,” Del. Kathy Byron, who chairs the House Subcommittee on Commerce and Labor, said during a press conference Wednesday.

“And although we have our hands tied as to being able to do much with the federal legislation, there are things we can do on a state level to have policy in place that creates competition and choice for the patients of Virginia that will ultimately result in lower costs for them,” said Byron, R-Lynchburg.

According to Byron and other Republican lawmakers, including Del. John O’Bannon of Henrico and Sens. Stephen Newman of Forest and Bill DeSteph of Virginia Beach, Virginia’s Certificate of Public Need laws represent a major cause of this inefficiency.

“COPN always is a hurdle,” said Dr. John Bowman, the chief medical officer for OrthoVirginia, one of the largest medical practices in the state. “We have experienced firsthand how expensive it is, how cumbersome it is and how time-consuming it is.”

“By reforming COPN, we can reduce the amount of red tape that medical providers like OrthoVirginia have to face. And the less red tape, the more time we have to deal with our patients’ urgent clinical problems – and I’m sure we can do that while still lowering their costs,” he continued.

Newman agreed with Bowman, while raising his own concerns.

“There’s been so much consolidation in health care to where you end up with a single entity that owns so many of the practices and doctors’ facilities. And you really have something close to the Soviet Union of Health Care being developed here in the commonwealth without a method of having relief.”

However, hospital officials said the COPN laws serve an important purpose.

According to Julian Walker, vice president of communications for the Virginia Hospital and Healthcare Association, the COPN program exists to “review the process by which health care providers start new facilities, add new equipment or add additional services.”

Walker said the longstanding program exists to prevent the overexpansion of health care markets.

“Health care is not a free market. Because of Medicare and Medicaid, patients often pay less than cost for health care … In addition, since EMTALA, a federal law passed in 1986 under the Reagan administration, hospitals have been required to treat people when they come to the emergency room, regardless of whether they can pay,” Walker said.

“So, in effect, the government has been telling hospitals what services they can provide for some time. It’s hard to think of other businesses in which the government does that.”

In addressing GOP members’ comments about the cost of health care, Walker said, “If you noticed, nobody today said anything specific about costs. The reason for that is Virginia has lower health care costs than the states without COPN.”

According to Walker, without COPN to regulate markets to ensure that all necessary health care options are available in any given community, only conditions that are profitable will be treated.

O’Bannon, a practicing surgeon in the Richmond area, disagreed.

“The proposals that we have will have clear specific obligations for anyone who comes out from under COPN to do charity care at the same rate as any existing facility within that same area,” O’Bannon said. “So there are clear provisions in these bills for charity care that have the exact same rules as current hospitals.”

RICHMOND – Women’s rights activists praised a Senate committee after it voted Monday to endorse a bill that would prohibit discrimination against public employees who are gay or transgender.

Senate Bill 12 would bar discrimination in public employment on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity. The Senate Committee on General Laws and Technology voted 9-4 in favor of the measure. It now will be considered by the full Senate.

“We’re so grateful a bipartisan group of state senators agree gay and transgender Virginians deserve equal protection under the law when it comes to discrimination in the workplace,” said James Parrish, executive director of Equality Virginia, an LGBT advocacy group. “Private employers have long recognized that protecting all their employees from discrimination on the job makes good business sense, and it’s far past time the commonwealth joined them.”

Anna Scholl, executive director of Progress Virginia, agreed.

“No one should have to worry their job is in jeopardy because of who they are or whom they love,” Scholl said. “Prohibiting discrimination in public employment is a commonsense step forward to ensuring every Virginian in equal in the eyes of the law.”

Social, religious and political conservatives have opposed SB 12. Chris Freund, vice president of government relations and communications for the Family Foundation of Virginia, spoke against the bill at the committee’s hearing.

The Family Foundation advocates for “a biblical worldview and founding principles to culture and public policy.” It opposes making sexual orientation a protected class.

“Every year there are efforts in Virginia to add homosexuality to the list of protected classes in non-discrimination laws,” the group’s website says. “This is not only unnecessary, as no evidence of discrimination exists, but has potential negative ramifications on religious liberty.”

Gov. Terry McAuliffe and his predecessors have issued executive orders to prohibit discrimination in state employment against people who are LGBT. SB 12 would make this policy a state law and extend such protection to teachers and other local government employees.

The nine members of the Senate General Laws and Technology Committee who voted for the bill were Democratic Sens. Mamie Locke of Hampton, J. Chapman Petersen of Fairfax, Ebbin and George Barker of Alexandria, Jennifer Wexton of Leesburg, Scott Surovell of Mount Vernon and Jeremy McPike of Woodbridge, as well as Republican Sens. Jill Holtzman Vogel of Winchester and David Suetterlein of Roanoke.

The four committee members who voted against the bill were Republican Sens. Frank Ruff of Clarksville, Richard Stuart of Montross, Bryce Reeves of Fredericksburg and Thomas Garrett of Hadensville. Sen. Bill DeSteph, R-Virginia Beach, abstained.

RICHMOND – Gov. Terry McAuliffe told an optimistic story about the state of Virginia’s economy, while emphasizing the need to improve education, before a crowd of more than 275 business people from the Virginia Chamber of Commerce on Wednesday.

McAuliffe said more Virginians today have better-paying jobs than before he was elected. Some statistics he quoted implied that the state’s economy is stronger than it has ever been. He said:

568 new economic development projects have occurred during his tenure.

$9.34 billion in new capital has come to the state in that time – nearly double the amount under any other governor in Virginia history.

The state’s unemployment rate is 4.2 percent, the lowest in the Southeast United States and the lowest in Virginia since the recession in 2008.

As a result, unemployment claims are the lowest they’ve been in 41 years in Virginia.

Personal income per capita over the past 12 months has increased 3.4 percent.

“I’m willing to work with anybody, anytime,” McAuliffe told attendees at the Virginia Chamber of Commerce Day at the Capitol.

“I tell folks when they come in my office, does it create a job, does it create economic activity? If it doesn’t, then I really don’t have too much time to waste on it, because I’m driven about growing and diversifying the economy.”

While the governor spoke at length about the current state of the economy, he also discussed the need to improve education and ensure that Virginia has a well-trained workforce to keep up with the demands of a changing economy.

McAuliffe emphasized the need to better fund community college job training programs, while citing the relatively low figure of $5 million a year that Virginia currently spends on such programs. By comparison, North Carolina, one of Virginia’s closest economic competitors, spends $92 million a year on such programs.

“Over the next decade, two thirds of the 1.5 million jobs we will have to fill, here in Virginia, will require the skills and knowledge demonstrated by industry certifications, occupational licenses and other workforce credentials. Not necessarily a four-year degree. But a two-year degree,” he said. “We have to get in the game on this.”

He also emphasized the need to improve K-12 education, through funding and higher standards.

“If you look at my budget, education, I talk about the investment we’ll make, $1 billion to put 2,500 teachers back in the classrooms that had been cut. We’ve got money in it for our community colleges … $800 million for our higher education schools, $200 million for our community colleges.”

McAuliffe was among several state officials who addressed the annual Chamber Day gathering.

At the event, the Chamber of Commerce elected Tom Palmer of Wells Fargo & Company to serve as chairman of the organization’s board of directors. Palmer served as first vice chair of the board in 2015. He succeeds 2015 chairman Stacy Mendler, chief operating officer of Alion Science and Technology.

Palmer is a senior vice president and regional vice president for the Central Virginia regional commercial banking office of Wells Fargo, based in Richmond. He also oversees the Eastern Virginia commercial banking office.

Helen Meade Webb Skinner Kei, 91, of Emporia, VA passed away on January 22, 2016. She was preceded in death by her parents, James Leonard, Sr. and Lillian Webb; husbands, Delmas Skinner and Johnny Kei; brother and sister-in-law, James Leonard, Jr. and Virginia Dare Webb; sister and brother-in-law, Dorothy Mae and Jimmie Kirks; and nephew, James (Buddy) Webb, III. Helen Meade is survived by nieces, Sandra Fletcher (Terry) of Richmond, VA and Joyce Webb of White Plains, VA; great nephew, Patrick Fletcher and great nieces, Katy Woskobunik (Tony) and Crystal Murphy (Chris); great-great niece Taylor Woskobunik. She is also survived by cousins, James W. Webb, Shelton S. Webb and E. Meade Webb. Helen Meade was born and raised in Pleasant Shade, VA. After graduating from Mary Washington College she returned to Emporia and began her teaching career at Purdy and Greensville County Elementary School. For the next 43 years she was a positive influence to the lives of countless young students. Helen Meade was a devoted daughter, sister, wife, aunt and friend. She leaves behind special friends, Patricia and Meade Horne, Mary Baird and Peggy and Russell Gillus. She will be greatly missed by all who knew and loved her. Visitation will be held Thursday, 1pm, in Echols Funeral Home Chapel followed by a funeral service at 2pm. Interment will follow in Emporia Cemetery. Memorial contributions can be made to Greensville County Volunteer Rescue Squad. Condolences may be sent to www.Echolsfuneralhome.com

RICHMOND – For the third year in a row, the Virginia House of Delegates has passed a version of the “Tebow bill,” opening the door for home-schooled students to participate in after-school sports and other activities sponsored by their local public schools.

The House on Wednesday voted 58-41 in favor of the legislation, nicknamed for star quarterback Tim Tebow, who excelled playing high school football in Florida in the early 2000s while being home-schooled.

House Bill 131, sponsored by Del. Robert Bell, R-Charlottesville, would prohibit Virginia public schools from joining interscholastic organizations that ban home-schoolers from participating. This would put pressure on the Virginia High School League to allow home-schooled students. The bill does not require local school boards to let home-schooled students participate in sports or other activities.

The Organization of Virginia Homeschoolers supports such initiatives.

“There is a group of young, hardworking, disciplined, American citizens, who are discriminated against because they choose to home educate,” Joshua Pratt, a Campbell County resident and father of a home-schooled ninth-grader, said in testimony on the group’s website.

According to Pratt, his son Micah can’t compete in state cross country competitions, despite excelling in the sport in privately held competitions. “This is wrong and should be changed.”

Bell said HB 131 would apply only to home-schooled students who meet age and academic requirements. It would not guarantee that those who try out will make the cut. Bell emphasized that the bill would allow students to play sports only within the school district that they would have attended if they were in public school.

He also said that it will be up to localities to determine if they want to let home-schoolers participate.

“If Madison County said, ‘We want our home-schoolers; we need them for the team,’ and Greene County said, ‘We don’t want ours,’ Greene County would have none and Madison County would have theirs,” Bell said.

Moreover, the bill would authorize school divisions to charge home-schoolers reasonable fees to participate.

HB 131 would sunset, or expire, after five years – in 2021. So if it were enacted and state legislators later determined that they made a mistake, the law could be changed. Bell found this scenario unlikely.

“I will tell you that no state that has taken this step, and a majority of states have, have ever reversed themselves,” he said. “The parade of horribles we hear every year has never turned out to be the case, and I predict that in five years from now, we would pass it without any objection.”

HB 131 still has a long way to go. Similar versions of the bill have been kicked around the General Assembly for years. Last year, the assembly passed such legislation, but Gov. Terry McAuliffe vetoed it.

Much of the opposition to the bill has to do with the “choice provision” of the bill. Some fear the law may be used unequally by different districts, thereby creating an unequal playing field.

“The fact that it’s described as local option doesn’t assure that everybody can play by the same rules,” said Del. Marcus Simon, D-Fairfax.

“What this bill says is that [school districts] may not participate … in the Virginia High School Athletic League, unless they change their policies to allow home-school kids because we in the General Assembly don’t like the policies that the VHSL has set up.”

The bill next goes to the Senate. An identical bill – SB 612, sponsored by Sen. Thomas Garrett, R-Hadensville, is awaiting action by the Senate Committee on Education and Health.

How They Voted

Here is how the House of Delegates voted Wednesday on HB 131 (Students who receive home instruction; participation in interscholastic programs).

RICHMOND – Virginia’s sales tax covers almost everything you buy, from athletic socks to zippers. But it doesn’t apply to medicine, contact lenses and certain other personal health items. Now, the General Assembly is considering adding feminine hygiene products to the list of exemptions.

Del. Mark Keam, D-Vienna, introduced House Bill 952, which seeks to remove the sales tax on tampons and sanitary napkins in Virginia. Currently these items are taxed at the standard rate, like most other items: 6 percent in Northern Virginia and Hampton Roads, and 5.3 percent in the rest of the state.

“I think that most people, Republican and Democrats, would agree that this is an unfair tax,” Keam said Wednesday in an interview in his office at Capital Square. “It’s not equitable for women to have to pay a tax on something that guys don’t have to spend money on.”

Virginia is one of 40 states that tax tampons and sanitary napkins. Of the 10 states that don’t tax these products, five deliberately changed their laws specifically to end the policy. The other five do not have a sales tax at all.

“I believe this is such an essential product for women that in the code of Virginia, we have a discriminatory impact on one gender and not on the other,” Keam said. “From a policy perspective, I don’t think it makes sense for us to treat women differently from men in terms of what they have to buy as an essential product.”

The tax on tampons by many states has generated controversy and discussion on the Internet recently. President Obama weighed in on the issue in an interview with YouTube personality Ingrid Nilsen for the news organization AJ+.

Obama said he has no idea why states would tax feminine hygiene products. “I suspect it’s because men were making the laws when those taxes were passed.”

Keam’s bill would add feminine hygiene products to the list of miscellaneous sales tax exemptions in Virginia. The list currently includes such things as firewood, eyeglasses and hearing aids.

“My goal is to make this a parity issue, and not turn it into a partisan fight over who supports women more,” Keam said. “I want to make this about making our tax law equitable for everyone.”

HB 952 has been sent to the House Finance Committee. Keam, who is a member of the committee, said the panel is awaiting the results of the economic impact study on the bill. The study would estimate how much revenue the state would lose by exempting tampons and sanitary napkins from the state’s sales tax.

Despite the fact that Keam is a man, he believes changing the policy is something all Virginians should care about: “I like nontraditional messengers. I want men to say, ‘This isn’t just a women’s issue, but we as men should have responsibility for policy making that deals with these issues as well.’”

RICHMOND – The governor’s schedule doesn’t leave much room for watching television, but Terry McAuliffe makes time for AMC’s Revolutionary War series “TURN: Washington’s Spies.” While it piques the governor’s interest because of his interest in the time period, he has doggedly followed and promoted the series because it’s filmed in Richmond.

Nearing the end of filming for the third season, McAuliffe put his public speaking skills to the test in a brief cameo as Gen. Robert Lawson for the show. Dressed in period costume, he only delivered one line and a dark look at Benedict Arnold, but his appearance underscored his support for both the show and the filmmaking industry in Virginia.

To make Virginia a destination for shooting movies and television shows (and to enjoy the tourism buzz they generate), the state government provides grants for productions that film in the state. State Del. Terry Kilgore, R-Gate City, is a long-time supporter of the tax credit program. He said it is an important way to grow the state’s economy.

“We need to start looking at film like any other manufacturing industry that we’re trying to attract to Virginia,” Kilgore said.

While Steven Spielberg’s “Lincoln” created the most buzz with the use of the Virginia State Capitol as a set for Civil War-era Washington, D.C., other productions have brought the magic of the movies to Virginia.

Over the course of two seasons of “TURN,” the show has received $13 million in grants and tax rebates from Virginia. According to a study by Mangum Economics, “TURN” generates $8 for the Virginia economy for every dollar spent on rebates for filming. Andy Edmunds, director of the Virginia Film Office, says film production benefits all aspects of the local economy – not just the movie industry.

“When a movie company comes to town, they touch all parts of the economy,” said Edmunds. “It’s not just the jobs of the people who work on the film, but what they buy while they are there.”

Starting with Louisiana in 1992, 39 states now have film tax credit programs. Louisiana has offered unlimited funds for productions, with a 35 percent reimbursement rate (the highest in the country).

While some states are pressing for more funding, others have elected to cut back. Due to steep declines in oil and gas revenue, Alaska chose to discontinue its program. Massachusetts also has debated whether to cut its incentives.

Virginia’s program is growing, but it is still modest compared with other states. Virginia reimburses productions 15-20 percent of their costs. In return, the state requires production companies to create promotional materials for the state. Virginia currently budgets $2.4 million a year for its program – but that would rise to $3 million annually under the new budget proposed by McAuliffe and being considered by the General Assembly.

In a political climate where the two parties often disagree, the issue of subsidizing the film industry in Virginia has bipartisan support.

“Virginia is getting the most bang for its buck out of this policy,” Kilgore said. “For every dollar we spend, we get so much more back because these companies are marketing Virginia.”

In addition to all of the materials purchased and people hired during the shoot, the tourism impact cannot be ignored. In exchange for the grant money, Virginia requires the company that receives the money to produce Virginia tourism commercials featuring the show or film shot here.

“Before and after each episode of ‘TURN,’ a Virginia tourism commercial airs urging viewers to visit our state,” Edmunds explained. “The amount of money in the grant is much less than the price of a commercial production, without the added benefit of the shoot, making it pay for itself.”

Besides “TURN” and “Lincoln,” the new PBS-produced Civil War drama “Mercy Street” was filmed in Richmond and Petersburg. With several million viewers, the state is hoping the show becomes as popular as the PBS drama “Downton Abbey.”

Other period pieces shot in the state include the miniseries “John Adams” and the 1970s-era romantic comedy film “Big Stone Gap,” filmed in Southwest Virginia.

“Here in Virginia we’ve got a great story to tell,” Kilgore said. “Because of our wide variety of climates, there’s plenty of great places to film movies.”

RICHMOND – House Republicans outlined their agenda for education on Tuesday, saying they want to expand early education and charter schools and give parents more options on where to send their children to school.

Speaking before the House, Del. Steve Landes, R-Augusta, lauded his colleagues for a successful bipartisan effort in 2015 that brought “more money into the classroom.”

Landes, who chairs the House Education Committee, said he hopes to continue to work across the aisle to improve what Education Week ranked as the fourth best public education system in the nation.

Republican legislators believe that charter schools are a great option for parents. Charter schools are public schools that are free from certain regulations and provide alternative programs, often with an innovative focus. Students must apply to these schools and are enrolled through a selective lottery process.

Landes noted that while New York operates 187 charter schools and Washington, D.C., operates 115, Virginia has only nine.

The Republicans also are striving to increase early education access statewide by removing barriers between public and private early education institutions. Landes cited legislative proposals from Del. Thomas Greason, R-Loudoun, to establish an Early Education Workforce Committee (House Bill 46) and Del. James Massey, R-Henrico, whose HB 1019 would extend education scholarship eligibility to pre-kindergarten programs.

The GOP agenda stipulated that the party does not support universal pre-kindergarten schooling because of the expense.

Landes also highlighted a bill he is sponsoring (HB 516) that would allow students and their parents to opt out of exposure to sexually explicit material.

The final part of the GOP education agenda for 2016 is directed at improving access to, and reducing the financial burden of, higher education. Proposed legislation would aim to implement a state-guaranteed assistance program and provide options for flat-fee degrees.

In response, Del. Charniele Herring, D-Alexandria, expressed appreciation for the bipartisan efforts of the House regarding education. She indicated that the Democrats would like to do more – by making early education universal, for example.

“We don’t want to close the door to early education,” Herring said. But she applauded the improved efficiency that freed funding from the mire of bureaucracy, agreeing that “rubber meets the road in the classroom.”

RICHMOND – In an open letter to Gov. Terry McAuliffe, a coalition of environmental activists and other community leaders said Tuesday that Dominion Virginia Power’s response to the federal Clean Power Plan is “fundamentally contrary” to President Obama’s goals of reducing carbon emissions and promoting renewable energy.

The letter is signed by about 50 individuals who represent organizations including the Virginia Chapter Sierra Club, the Chesapeake Climate Action Network, and the Richmond and Northern Neck chapters of the Citizens Climate Lobby.

“Never in history has a Virginia governor had greater authority, greater responsibility and a greater opportunity to combat harmful carbon pollution,” the letter states. “We implore you to deliver to the people of Virginia a Clean Power Plan that lowers carbon pollution and ensures the health and safety of Virginians for generations to come.”

Coincidently, across Capitol Square, the General Assembly considered a bill that would restrict the governor’s authority for implementing the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Clean Power Plan in Virginia.

Amid partisan debate, the House of Delegates voted to move forward on a bill that could present a roadblock to implementing the Clean Power Plan. House Bill 2 would require approval from the General Assembly of the state’s response to the federal plan. Similar legislation, Senate Bill 21, is moving through the Senate.

If such legislation becomes law, the General Assembly would take precedence over the governor’s administration and the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality in approving the state’s implementation of the Clean Power Plan.

Support and opposition to HB 2 split along party lines. The bill’s sponsor – Del. Israel O’Quinn, R-Bristol – introduced entreated the legislative body to “get this particular piece of the puzzle right.” He argued the measure would ensure a balance between encouraging economic vitality and reducing fossil fuel energy sources.

Republican sentiment largely followed suit, with some lawmakers citing the State Corporation Commission’s estimate of a 40 percent increase in utility costs under the Clean Power Plan.

Other voices stressed the need to address the economic depression in southwest Virginia, a region with deep ties to the coal industry.

Across the aisle, Del. Alfonso Lopez, D-Arlington, urged House members to reflect on the effects of carbon emissions on the environment. “Climate change is having an impact in our day-to-day lives,” Lopez said.

He said that HB 2 is a stalling tactic encouraged by special interests and that it infringes on the governor’s authority.

Del. Richard Sullivan, D-Fairfax, encouraged his colleagues to “embrace the energy revolution” by pointing to the growth of a renewable energy industry in bordering states including North Carolina and West Virginia.

The bill was engrossed after a contested vote. It will return to the House floor for its final reading soon. SB 21 is on a similar track to becoming law. That prospect has alarmed environmentalists.

“We absolutely support his (the governor’s) authority in this manner and are very concerned about the general lack of respect for the severity of the issue of climate change among the General Assembly,” said Kate Addleson, conservation director of the Sierra Club.

Addleson helped lead the efforts to draft and distribute the letter to the governor.

“Our concern is that Dominion Power has a great deal of influence over many of our politicians,” she said. “And we feel that that influence has been used to misinform many of our legislators about what the economic impacts of this new Clean Power Plan would be.”

Dominion Power denied the letter’s claims.

“Contrary to what the letter says, Dominion has not put forth a plan. It is clearly up to the state to develop a CPP implementation plan,” Dominion spokesman David Botkins stated in an email. “We are involved in a Department of Environmental Quality stakeholder’s group process working with the state as it determines its best path forward.”

Botkins said Dominion is worried that complying with the federal plan would cause big increases in consumers’ utility bills.

“Dominion always likes to say Virginia has some of the lowest energy rates in the country overall per megawatt hour, but what they don’t want to tell you is that Virginians actually pay some of the highest energy bills in the country ... because we’re not implementing energy efficiency programs,” she said.

Petersburg, VA - Southside Regional Medical Center will offer Heartsaver® First Aid CPR AED training on February 3 from 8:00am – 4:30pm. The class will be held in the A/B Classroom, located at 200 Medical Park Boulevard in Petersburg. Participants of this training will learn first aid basics, how to recognize and treat medical injury, environmental and life threatening emergencies, including cardiac arrest and choking, and learn how to operate an AED. They will also learn how to recognize the warning signs of a heart attack and stroke in adults and breathing difficulties in children.Class size is limited and the registration deadline is close of business on January 28. The class fee is $100. Call 804-765-5729 to register or for more information.

RICHMOND – Virginia restaurant owners have mixed perspectives on legislation that would allow their establishments to sell more alcoholic beverages.

Two Republican lawmakers from Virginia Beach – Sen. Bill DeSteph and Del. Scott Taylor – have proposed changing the 20-year-old requirement that restaurants and caterers with liquor licenses limit their alcohol sales to 55 percent of their total revenue. This means that under the current law, a little less than half of all sales in restaurants must come from food. Wine and beer sales are not considered in this ratio.

The bills proposed by DeSteph and Taylor would raise the maximum percentage of revenue from liquor sales to 75 percent of total sales per restaurant. Many restaurateurs believe they would benefit from such an increase.

“There’s a lot of things out there that people are doing wrong, just so they can stay ahead of that law, so they can maintain their bills as a restaurant or bar or nightclub,” said Johnny Giavos, owner of Richmond mainstays Stella’s and KubaKuba as well as the recently opened Continental Westhampton.

“Just let people open a bar and charge them more for the liquor license. Just let them be bars ... The state makes more money, nobody has to fudge their numbers or steal money to make their numbers work, and everybody benefits from it,” Giavos said.

“I don’t understand why that’s a big deal,” he said. “If you go to other states, they seem to manage fine just having bars … I think it’s time to lower [the required percentage of food sales] again. I think that’s the right move.”

Other interested parties – like the Downtown Business Group, a confederation of hotels, restaurants, retailers and apartments in Richmond – disagree. They feel that such a rule change would cut into profits at other restaurants by opening up a market for businesses to promote cheap alcohol as their main source of revenue.

“They’re trying to fundamentally change the way the entire state of Virginia works from a hospitality standpoint,” said Michael Byrne, director of operations at the Tobacco Company Restaurant and Properties and a leader in the business group. “They’re putting alcohol center stage, because you make more money off of liquor than you do anything else. If all you need to sell is liquor, why would you worry about selling food?”

When asked about the creation of a specific license for bars, as Giavos suggested, Byrne said, “The nightclub-only license is a dangerous license. Look at the places that operate as bars, and you’ll find the highest amount of crime, the highest number of visits from the police department … So it definitely is a public safety issue.”

Other business owners are still on the fence.

“I could go either way. I own a restaurant, not a bar. I have a bar in the restaurant, said Ron Joseph, owner of Strawberry Street Cafe in Richmond’s Fan neighborhood.

He said the legislation “won’t hurt me. It may open up more opportunities for somebody that may want to open up a [music] venue. But I don’t think it will do any more damage than the breweries do to restaurants.”

This is not the first time such legislation has been introduced in the General Assembly. Just last year, when DeSteph was a member of the House, he sponsored an almost identical bill. It failed, largely as a result of lobbying by the Downtown Business Group.

In an interview at the General Assembly this week, DeSteph said he believes the measure has a better chance of passing during the current legislative session.

“Before, there were about eight restaurants opposed to the bill, with three different owners,” he said. “This year, on the other side, we have the Fan Restaurant Group and about 600 different restaurants in support of the bill.”

DeSteph is carrying two proposals – SB 488 and SB 489 – to change the food-beverage ratio for Virginia restaurants. The bills have been assigned to the Senate Committee on Rehabilitation and Social Services.

Taylor’s bill – HB 219 – has been assigned to Subcommittee 3 of the House Committee on General Laws.

DeSteph said he expects the committees to take up the legislation in the next week or two.

Dels. Rob Bell of Albemarle and Todd Gilbert of Shenandoah – both Republicans – said Thursday that their proposals would impose tougher penalties for habitual domestic violence offenders while empowering women with methods that protect them during vulnerable moments.

Bell is sponsoring House Bill 609 and HB 610, which he hopes will deter abusers from committing repeat offenses. The bills would make assault and battery resulting in bodily injury and stalking of a person protected by a protective order a Class 6 felony.

Under the current law in Virginia, when an individual obtains a protective order that is then later violated, the penalty is a Class 1 misdemeanor, which carries a mandatory one-day minimum sentence. A Class 6 felony carries a mandatory minimum term of confinement of six months.

“We also want to change the laws for stalking,” Bell said.

“The issue with stalking that makes it hard is, at what point does it become stalking? What we are going to do is allow her (the victim) to tell him (the stalker), ‘I don’t want you to contact me; I don’t want you to follow me.’ ”

If an individual continues the behavior after being told to stop, Bell’s proposal would define that as sufficient evidence that the person intended to place the other person in fear.

“This is a comprehensive effort to address the most serious offenders – the offenders who are most likely to represent a threat to the women in the commonwealth. By relegating them to the status of felon, we actually will improve the ability to protect women,” Gilbert said.

Gilbert is proposing a zero-tolerance approach regarding assault and battery against a family or household member. His legislation – HB 765 – would punish first offenders at the same level as individuals with prior convictions.

This bill would directly contest Virginia’s first offender statute for domestic violence. Under this existing law, a judge may find evidence sufficient for a conviction, but the conviction is entered only if the defendant violates the terms of his probation.

“Having this be the standard disposition, which is what it has become in most courts in the commonwealth, is just wrong,” said Gilbert, a former prosecutor.

Gilbert also is sponsoring HB 768, which would provide funding for firearms safety or training courses for victims of domestic violence, sexual abuse, stalking and family abuse.

The bill would allow the Virginia Department of Criminal Justice Services, using the Virginia Sexual and Domestic Violence Victim Fund, to reimburse entities that offers such training for free to abuse victims.

“But we will see what the governor does. This one is where we might be able to get a consensus,” Bell said.

Gilbert ended by saying, “We wouldn’t be doing this if this wasn’t a serious effort with funding to back it up.”

RICHMOND – A Republican state legislator is urging Democratic Gov. Terry McAuliffe to delay the revocation of reciprocal agreements Virginia has with 25 states on whether to honor their concealed handgun carry permits.

Del. L. Scott Lingamfelter of Woodbridge made the request in a letter this week to McAuliffe.

“Given the fact that the State Police has told me that they have no records of any out-of-state individual with a concealed carry permit committing crimes in Virginia, I think a few months’ delay hardly represents a threat to our citizens,” Lingamfelter said.

His letter comes a month after Attorney General Mark Herring announced that beginning Feb. 1, Virginia would no longer recognize concealed handgun permits from 25 states, including North Carolina, Tennessee and Kentucky.

Herring, a Democrat, said an audit showed that those states did not meet Virginia’s standards for issuing concealed carry permits.

“To ensure Virginia’s law and safety standards for concealed handgun permits are applied evenly, consistently and fairly, I have recommended the State Police terminate the reciprocity agreements with 25 states whose laws are not adequate to prevent issuance of a concealed handgun permit to individuals that Virginia would disqualify,” Herring said in a statement on Dec. 22.

“The State Police has accepted that recommendation and has begun sending letters to the 25 states informing them that as of Feb. 1, their permits will no longer be recognized by Virginia.”

In his letter, Lingamfelter suggested that the revocation be put on hold until July 1. He said the five-month delay would give the General Assembly time to address the issue.

If implementation of Herring’s decision is not delayed, Lingamfelter said, there could be a domino effect.

“Just last week, we learned that our neighbor Tennessee has initiated a legislative process to revoke the reciprocity it has with Virginia as a result of our pending revocation of the agreement we have with Tennessee,” Lingamfelter said.

“Other states will surely follow as their legislatures take note of the action taken by the Virginia State Police and the Office of the Attorney General.”

In a press release, Lingamfelter said Herring’s decision “impacts the legal right of over 420,000 Virginians who possess a concealed carry permit to have a concealed weapon when they travel to other states.”

“This revocation action is very hurtful to law abiding citizens who possess a valid concealed carry permit and desire to travel to other states who recognize Virginia’s permit. The action by the State Police and the Attorney General damages the ability of Virginians to protect themselves.”

Lingamfelter represents House District 31, which includes parts of Fauquier and Prince William counties. He said he hopes McAuliffe will respond to the letter next week.

McAuliffe has said he supports Herring’s decision. On radio station WTOP’s “Ask the Governor” program on Dec. 23, he said the 25 states whose permits will no longer be recognized in Virginia have lower standards than Virginia for who can carry a concealed handgun.

“There are states that don’t have the disqualifiers that we have on undocumented folks who are in this country, on spousal/domestic abuse,” the governor said.

Jackson-Feild is pleased to announce that Dr. J. Michael Griffin, PhD. has joined its clinical staff. Dr Griffin is a licensed psychologist and is Board Certified in EEG Biofeedback (Neurofeedback).

Dr. Griffin has special interest in attention and memory issues of children, adolescents and adults. As a survivor of severe traumatic brain injury (TBI), he is accomplished in the assessment and treatment of patients who have experienced TBI and/or attention deficit disorder and learning disabilities.

In his treatment of boys and girls who are severely emotionally impaired, Dr. Griffin utilizes biofeedback to help his patients understand the complexity of their disorders and how to function successfully while managing them.

Dr. Griffin received a B.S. in Biology from Guilford College, an M.A. in Biology from Western Carolina University, an M.A. in Psychology from North Carolina Central University, a doctorate in education (Ed.D) from the University of Sarasota, and a Ph.D. in Psychology from Walden University.

As the temperatures drop overnight, the roads and melted snow are going to freeze over.

Those having to travel tonight need to be especially aware of black ice…and water from melted snow that’s pooled on the roads because the snowbanks on the side are too high for the water to drain off.

Beware of roads shaded for most of the day, as there is a greater potential for icy conditions on these stretches of road.

In the coming days as the snow continues to melt, motorists need to be prepared for the potential of minor flooding, too.

For a little perspective on what life was like for Virginia State Police over the weekend:

Since Friday (Jan. 22) through 7 a.m. Monday (Jan. 25), Virginia State Police have responded to a total 8,412 calls for service…to include 1,562 traffic crashes and another 2,502 disabled vehicles across the Commonwealth.

This was a 47% increase in traffic crashes and 69% increase in disabled vehicle calls for VSP personnel to respond to when compared to the previous weekend ( Jan. 15-17), which yielded a total 6,990 calls for service.

RICHMOND – A group of Republican lawmakers on Monday touted a bundle of legislation that they said would ensure religious freedom but that critics said would sanction discrimination against gay couples seeking to marry.

Led by Sen. Charles Carrico Sr. of Galax and Del. Todd Gilbert of Shenandoah, the GOP legislators held a press conference at the Capitol to discuss their bills. The proposals were prompted by the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision last June to legalize same-sex marriages.

The Republican-sponsored bills would allow ministers and groups to refuse to participate in same-sex weddings on the basis of their religious convictions. Otherwise, some Virginians would be forced to offer services that go against their core beliefs, according to supporters of the legislation.

“The heavy hand of government is coercing businesses to participate in same-sex unions,” said Victoria Cobb, president of the Family Foundation of Virginia.

“Religious nonprofits, ministries and schools are the next target of discrimination – something that even the Obama administration acknowledged during its oral arguments.”

Under Carrico’s Senate Bill 41, a marriage officiant wouldn’t be required to marry same-sex couples. The bill also states that no religious organization would have to provide accommodations, facilities, goods or other services for a wedding or marriage if the action would violate the group’s religious beliefs. The legislation is awaiting action by the Senate Committee on General Laws and Technology.

“Our founders got it right,” Carrico said.

“They didn’t want to infringe upon those deep held beliefs. They didn’t expect the government to step in and say to an individual, because you have this deep held belief that you have to do X, Y and Z.”

Gilbert has introduced HB 773, which he calls the Government Nondiscrimination Act. It would prevent state and local governments from discriminating against a person or organization that believes marriage is between a man and a woman.

The bill also would prevent the denial of government grants, licenses, contracts and tax breaks for those who, based on their religious beliefs, deny services to same-sex couples. HB 773 has been assigned to the House General Laws Committee.

“Fundamentally, I think all Americans agree that nobody should be forced to adhere to a particular belief system if they don’t choose to,” Gilbert said.

Also at the press conference, lawmakers discussed:

HB 19, filed by Del. Christopher Head, R-Roanoke. Under this bill, ministers and other people authorized to perform marriages would not be required to take an oath, and they would not be considered an officer of the commonwealth. The bill is pending in the House Courts of Justice Committee.

HB 791, sponsored by Del. Les Adams, R-Chatham. It asserts that religious rights are “the natural and unalienable rights of mankind and this declaration shall remain the policy of the Commonwealth of Virginia.” Last week, a subcommittee of the House General Laws Committee unanimously recommended approval of this measure.

“These bills are targeted to protect that religious freedom that each and every person has and believes in that spirit within them that drives them to do the moral right things,” Carrico said.

However, some critics say the term “religious freedom” is nothing more than a license to discriminate.

Equality Virginia, an advocacy group for gay and lesbian Virginians, fears that the civil rights of gay citizens would be violated as a result of the “religious freedom” proposals. The group says the laws like SB 41 are too vague and would harm both the LGBT community and Virginia’s economy.

“Houses of worship and clergy already have the constitutionally protected freedom to decide which marriages they will and won’t perform in their faith traditions,” Equality Virginia said in a statement on its website.

“Under current law, no church or pastor could be forced to perform a marriage that goes against their religious teaching or beliefs – including, for example, marriages of same-sex couples, interfaith marriages, or marriages of people previously divorced.

“Broad religious exemptions open the door for people to claim they have a right to decide which laws they will and won’t obey, creating uncertainty for law enforcement and making it difficult for officers to enforce the law.”

Equality Virginia said SB 41 “could open the floodgates to legal chaos and frivolous lawsuits at taxpayer expense.”

“The unintended consequences of this bill may cost Virginia’s taxpayers large sums of money, which could be used towards improving our schools or building our economy,” the group said.

On Saturday, January 16, a large crowd gathered at Royal Baptist Church to celebrate the life and legacy of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. The program was largely led by young people.

The Zion Baptist Church Youth Choir presented several musical selections and the Diamond Grove Baptist Church Little Diamonds performed a Praise Dance.

The Worship Leader was Nicholas Reese, the Scripture was read by Asia McNair, Clara Wright offered the Prayer, SyNari Reynolds welcomed those gathered, and QuintavionOnery read a poem. The Keynote Speaker was Mr. Jack Gravely, Executive Director of the Virginia Conference of the NAACP. Mr. Gravely urged parents to encourage their children to believe that they can go anywhere and do anything and offered "5 Wells" to young people. He urged all youth to be Well Read, Well Spoken, Well Dressed, Well Mannered, Well Traveled.

The bulk of Mr. Gravely's comments were aimed at the young people. He pointed out that competition for our youth do not come from Emporia, or Petersburg, but from Japan, and Germany. He asked how we could compete with people from other countries when they could speak our language, but we cannot speak theirs, and stressed the importance of education. He urged that young people not allow anyone to stand in the way of their education.

Mr. Gravely also spoke to the parents, pointing out that they went to their children's Basketball Games, Baseball Games and Football Games and asking why they didn't attend Parent-Teacher Conferences. "How can you expect your child to love and pursue and have a dream of education when you don't even care?" He pointed out that his mother was the one that pulled him off of the basketball team because his grades were suffering.

Mr. Gravely pointed out that college was not the be-all-end-all, but that there were other trade programs, including one in welding in Portsmouth Virginia, that could lead to lucrative careers. He related that his brother, a skilled tradesman, made more than he did as a lawyer; but, education was key, even to becoming a skilled tradesman.

After Mr. Gravely's speech, the Closing Comments were from Mrs. Debra Brown, President of the Emporia Greensville Branch of the NAACP. In addition to thanking all those that had attended and participated, she also made a plea for Youth Membership.

In attendance were the Chief of Police for the City of Emporia, Mr. Ricky Pinksaw and Chairman of the Greensville County School Board Mrs. Bessie Reed-Moore. No other elected or appointed officials were in attendance.

RICHMOND – Do you have an expensive bottle of wine you’ve been holding onto – one that you’d love to uncork at your favorite restaurant on a special occasion? What about a special case of beer or cider?

In 2011, the General Assembly passed a law allowing Virginians to bring a bottle of wine into a restaurant and have it uncorked to be served with their meal, usually for a fee at the restaurateur’s discretion. Now legislators are considering a bill to expand the corkage law to beer and cider.

“Beer seems to be the new thing if you will, and cider is the excitement of what the future will bring,” said the bill’s sponsor, Del. David Yancey, R-Newport News. “Virginia is in a great position because we have outstanding apples, and we’ve got young people that are really excited about the possibilities that beer has.”

His measure, House Bill 706, was approved 7-0 last week by a subcommittee of the House General Laws Committee. The full committee will now consider it.

When the corkage law was initially proposed five years ago, it was opposed by the Virginia Restaurant, Lodging and Travel Association. The association raised concerns that restaurants would face pressure from patrons to offer corkage, as has happened in other states.

The group’s fears did not come to pass in Virginia after the 2011 legislation, sponsored by Sen. Jeffrey McWaters, R-Virginia Beach, took effect. Instead, the issue with the state’s corkage law seems to be a lack of awareness that it exists.

“What we’ve seen since the Virginia legislation was passed is that therereally are only a small number of people that take advantage of the ability to bring their own wines into a restaurant,” said lobbyist Thomas Lisk, who represents the Virginia Restaurant, Lodging and Travel Association and helped shape the 2011 law.

A small sample of restaurateurs in Virginia seemed to agree. Some were not aware of the law. Most offered a small corkage fee but said they don’t have many customers requesting the service.

“We usually charge the price of whatever the cheapest bottle of wine is on our list – like 20 bucks,” said Bruce Rowland, co-owner of Rowland Fine Dining in Richmond.

“For me, corkage law is such a non-issue because it’s so rare that someone does bring in their own wine. But I’d certainly want to charge corkage for beer and cider as well, because I’ve got beer and cider and I want to sell them.”

Yancey said he had not seen an ambivalence regarding corkage. He said his bill was inspired by the booming craft brewing industry in Virginia and the potential for growth in the cider industry.

“The appreciation for well-made beer, for many people, is the equivalent of the appreciation people have for well-made wines,” Yancey said.

Lisk expressed doubts that the bill would be a net gain for small brewers in Virginia.

“I don’t speak for them, but from the brewery perspective, I’m not sure how advantageous it would be,” he said. “Frankly, we’re seeing so many of the craft breweries – particularly Virginia craft breweries – with their beers on tap in lots of restaurants and really squeezing out a lot of the major brewers.”

RICHMOND, Va., January 21, 2016 – A strong supporter of Connecting Hearts, First Community Bank has graciously offered to be the Title Sponsor of the Second Annual Connecting Hearts Golf Tournament. First Community Bank is a comprehensive banking and financial services company that is known for its steady, fundamental approach that focuses on balanced, long-term growth. The golf event will be held on May 16th, 2016 at the Hermitage Country Club and will benefit adoption and foster care support efforts in Virginia.

A great success in 2015, Connecting Hearts once again calls on local business and community members to join a day of fun to support children in the foster care system. The tournament will serve as both an awareness and fundraising event. All proceeds will go towards Connecting Hearts’ mission of finding permanent, loving homes for all children in Virginia.

Participants will be welcomed to learn about adoption and foster care issues in Virginia while enjoying a game of golf, box lunch, drinks, and dinner. If interested in participating and helping Virginia’s children in foster care, please contact Connecting Hearts for more information about the event!

Connecting Hearts in Virginia – A Deborah J Johnston Charity is an adoption and foster care nonprofit lead by Virginia’s Governor-appointed Adoption Champion Debbie Johnston. Connecting Hearts ensures that every child in Virginia has the opportunity for a loving home through addressing support needs across the state, partnering with other organizations, spreading awareness, hosting events for children in care and advocating. Virginia is home to over 5,000 children in foster care and over 860 children are waiting to be adopted.

The good news: The sun & folks staying off the highways helped VDOT crews with treating and clearing roads across the Commonwealth today.

The bad news: Everything that did melt today is going to refreeze overnight and make for very dangerous travel conditions tonight and into Monday morning.

The roads may appear passable, but looks can be deceiving and the Virginia State Police are still encouraging residents to avoid unnecessary travel. In many places, snow is piled up several feet high alongside the interstates and highway ramps. That snow is melting and pooling in travel lanes and will turn into ice overnight. Therefore, VSP advises those who are having to travel overnight or early Monday morning to use extreme caution. Black ice will be a serious threat and drivers are advised to keep their speeds down, buckle up, and remain alert to slick spots on the road.

Duration of Storm: Since Friday (Jan. 22) through 3 p.m. Sunday (Jan. 24), Virginia State Police responded to a total 7,236 calls for service…to include 1,464 traffic crashes and another 2,214 disabled vehicles across the Commonwealth:

The Hampton Roads region has experienced the most traffic crashes with state troopers responding to 549 crashes in our Chesapeake Division.

As evening sets in and temperatures begin to drop, Virginians are reminded to stay safe by staying indoors. Road conditions remain hazardous with drifting snow and white-out conditions across much of the state. There may be no snow in Hampton Roads, but traffic crashes continue to plague the region due to slick, icy roads.

As of 5 p.m., Saturday (Jan. 23), Virginia State Police are on the scene of 17 traffic crashes statewide and 63 disabled vehicles. The majority of stuck, disabled vehicles are occurring in the Metro-Richmond and Northern Virginia regions.

As of 5 p.m. Saturday (Jan. 23), the Office of the Virginia Chief Medical Examiner has confirmed three storm-related deaths in the Commonwealth:

City of Chesapeake – Fatal Traffic Crash

City of Hampton – Hypothermia

Wise County – Hypothermia

Just as state officials and law enforcement are advising Virginians to stay off the roads, we are also urging people to stay indoors. The freezing temperatures, drifting snow, and white-out conditions are extremely dangerous for individuals to be out walking around in, as people can slip and fall and/or become disoriented very easily in such conditions. The Virginia Department of Health has a comprehensive list of safety tips to protect yourself and your loved ones from the extreme conditions: http://www.vdh.virginia.gov/news/PressReleases/2016/012316SnowInjuries.htm.

Virginians are also encouraged to check on their neighbors and to bring any pets indoors.

RICHMOND – As a winter storm blanketed the state with snow, Gov. Terry McAuliffe on Saturday begged Virginians to avoid driving until the roads are clear.

“Please stay off of the roads tomorrow and Monday if you can and let us do our job to keep you safe and our community safe,” McAuliffe said during a media briefing on the commonwealth’s response to the severe winter weather.

McAuliffe and Virginia emergency response officials said they are working with hundreds of state and local employees statewide to minimize the number of weather-related issues.

One storm-related fatality has been confirmed in Chesapeake. Two other deaths, in Whitfield (in Pittsylvania County) and in Grayson County, are being investigated by the medical examiner to determine if they are weather-related as well.

As of mid-Saturday, more than 4,600 Virginia residents were without electricity. Officials said 60 teams from around the country have come to Virginia to assist Dominion Virginia Power in restoring power.

“We are working very closely with Dominion to make sure that power is restored as soon as possible,” McAuliffe said at the Virginia Emergency Operations Center.

Every part of the commonwealth has been affected by the storm. But McAuliffe said his biggest concern is for coastal areas like Chincoteague, Hampton Roads, Norfolk and Newport News.

“Tonight high tide is at 7:36 p.m. We’re concerned about the high winds and the major coastal flooding that can occur,” McAuliffe said.“We have teams down there working on that, andwe’ll monitor to see where we are when we get closer to high tide.”

Another top concern is keeping open the major road arteries, including Interstate 81.

“Trucks have to continue to move their commerce, and we’re doing everything we can, working with VDOT and State Police to make sure that the trucks can go about their business,” McAuliffe said.

“The primary roads that keep the commerce of Virginia moving – that is what we’re hitting. We’re hitting it hard.”

McAuliffe said the state began preparing for winter storm Jonas before the first sight of snow.

“We were the first state to declare a state of emergency. On Wednesday, we had our first snow emergency meeting, and later that afternoon, we deployed 500 trucks to NOVA to get ready for the first storm,” McAuliffe said.

The crews have tried to make the roads safe.

“As of this morning, we had dropped 69,000 tons of salt; 304,000 gallons of liquid salt and 14,000 tons of sand has been put on our streets,” McAuliffe said.

He said the Virginia State Police have responded to more than 4,400 calls and 1,100 car accidents.

In addition, as of Friday, about 700 members of the National Guard had been deployed throughout Virginia to assist with responding to the storm.

Virginia has $200 million in its snow response budget. That amount must cover plowing and other expenses for both the Virginia Department of Transportation and state contractors. With a storm of this magnitude, the response can cost $2 million to $3 million per hour, officials said.

“With the prediction of the sun coming out tomorrow, many may be tempted to go outside, but the roads will be very icy and treacherous,” McAuliffe warned. “Let us do what we need to do – continue to plow and get salt down so we can get on top of this situation.”

As the winter storm moves across the Commonwealth, crashes have been at a minimum and no fatalities to report as of 11 a.m. However, disabled vehicle calls are increasing…these are vehicles that get stuck or slide off a road but do not qualify as a “crash.” So…we still have vehicles attempting to drive in adverse and treacherous road conditions.

SWVA - Wythe County: At 9:07 a.m., Virginia State Police responded to a jackknifed tractor-trailer in the southbound lanes of I-77 at the 26 mile marker on the New River Bridge in Wythe County. The driver suffered non-life threatening injuries and has been transported to a nearby hospital. Cause of the crash remains under investigation. Southbound lanes of I-77 should be re-opening soonas crews finish their work to clean up debris from the crash and clear the scene.

Virginia State Police are still advising Virginians NOT to drive if at all possible. Stay home & stay safe.

*Editor's Note: City Streets are Slushy and Snow Packed. Please be safe and heed the warnings to stay at home and off the streets unless travel is unavoidable. Many businesses have closed early, if you do find it necessary to travel, call ahead and see if your destination is open.

RICHMOND – Gov. Terry McAuliffe emphasized the importance of reaching out to global markets and expanding Virginia’s economy in a speech Wednesday to a group of business representatives graduating from the Virginia Leaders in Export Trade program in downtown Richmond.

“Ninety-five percent of the world’s customers live outside the United States of America, so we are going where the customers are,” McAuliffe said, echoing a theme from his State of the Commonwealth address last week. “With our great Virginia businesses, I know we can do business in any country on the globe.”

The VALET program aims to do just that. Sponsored by the Virginia Economic Development Partnership, it is a two-year training program to assist Virginia businesses in reaching international markets.

Global trade is crucial because Virginia's economy has been highly dependent on federal government spending. As the No. 1 recipient of grants from the U.S. Department of Defense, Virginia was hit especially hard by the government's sequestration cuts following the recession in 2008. Despite the return of funding, McAuliffe stressed the need to diversify Virginia’s economy to prepare for the future.

“Our whole goal is to build the new economy on trade. Our economy has weathered the first round of sequestration, but it’s coming back when the extension runs out,” McAuliffe said.

The Democratic governor also said he hoped for bipartisanship in working with the General Assembly, which is controlled by Republicans.

“I do not get involved in these petty, partisan, political battles that really don’t help grow the economy,” he said. “I do not have time for it. I am really focused on taking our economy to the next level.”

RICHMOND – As the first of two forecasted snowstorms makes its way across the Commonwealth Wednesday, Virginians are encouraged to plan ahead, be prepared and avoid unnecessary travel. Virginia State Police will have all available troopers and supervisors working in advance of and the duration of the storms as they make their way across and into the Commonwealth. To prevent unnecessary traffic crashes and delays from occurring on Virginia’s highways during the storms, state police advises residents to postpone travel plans and avoid driving, when possible.

“These storm systems have the potential to significantly impact the safety of motorists on our highways,” said Colonel W. Steven Flaherty, Virginia State Police Superintendent. “We encourage drivers who encounter adverse travel conditions to be prepared, be alert, remain patient, and to always drive to save lives.”

If having to travel during the storms, drivers are reminded of the following traffic safety tips:

Use headlights. Increasing your visibility helps you to avoid slick and dangerous spots on the road, as well as helps other drivers see you better.

Slow your speed. Though state police works closely with the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) to identify problem areas on Virginia’s highways during a snow storm, drivers still must drive for conditions. Slowing your speed gives you more time to safely react and avoid a crash. Drive your vehicle based on your ability to properly maintain control of your vehicle.

Don’t tailgate. You need increased stopping distance on slick road surfaces, especially at intersections. Give yourself more space between vehicles traveling ahead of you in order to avoid rear end collisions.

Buckle Up. Most crashes that occur during winter weather are caused by vehicles sliding into guardrails, off the road or other vehicles. Wearing a seat belt protects you and your passengers from being thrown around the inside the vehicle and suffering serious injury in a crash.

Check Your Vehicle. Make sure your vehicle is in good working order for the conditions. Fill up the tank in advance. Check windshield wipers, windshield wiper fluid, tire tread, battery life, etc.

For the latest in road conditions and updates, please call 511 on a cell phone or go online to the VDOT Virginia Traffic Information Website at www.511virginia.org.

Virginians are advised to only call 911 or #77 on a cell phone in case of emergency. It is essential to keep emergency dispatch lines open for those in serious need of police, fire or medical response.

Neighborhood Watch Organization will be having a meeting at the Jarratt Fire Department in the meeting room on Wednesday, January 20, 2015, at 7:00 P.M.

Trooper C. D. Tucker will present a short program on the Virginia Sex Offender program. This is a very informative program and one that we all need to know more about. Please plan on attending this very informative meeting and learn more about the sex offender program and bring a friend and/or neighbor.

All residents in Jarratt, Greensville, Sussex Counties and Emporia are invited to attend this program. Please come and voice your ideas to help our area to prevent crime and make our area a safer place to live and enjoy.

If you have any ideas for programs you would like to have presented at the meeting, please contact Dana Kinsley or RodericTuell.

According to NWS at 0730 this morning we can expect another 2 to 4 inches of snow today, winds gusting to 30 MPH, temperatures should not get above freezing . Right now we are under a new Weather Advisory for Sunday Morning.

It seems that winter is here.

A Winter Storm is being forecast for our area, bringing the possibility of nine inches of snow for the weekend.

According to forecasts, this will be a major storm, but snowfall totals will be dependent on where the snow/rain line ends up.

Ken Ryalls, Emergency Services Coordinator for the City of Emporia said via e-mail today "some Computer models show snow amounts for Emporia up to 9”, some show just a wintery mix, right now I’m not sure what will get ."

Already, in view of the forecast, Carolyn's Creations announced that they will close on Friday and re-open at their regular time on Thursday, January 26th.

On a Sunday morning in the late 1700s, a Williamsburg plantation owner was walking his lands when he heard the sounds of worship coming from a nearby arbor: A group of slaves was holding a Baptist service. The landowner was so moved by their songs and prayers that he decided to give them use of a carriage house in which to gather.

Now, this congregation is celebrating its 240th anniversary. Known today as First Baptist Church, it is one of the oldest black congregations in the United States and an important part of American history.

First Baptist has been a symbolof African American resilience and deep faith. For February – Black History Month – the church is partnering with the Colonial Williamsburg Foundation to share its story with the world.

In particular, First Baptist invites members of the community to ring its newly restored church bell. The church had acquired the massive steel bell in the late 19th century, but it has been inoperable since the days of racial segregation. The Colonial Williamsburg Foundation has returned the bell to working condition so it can be rung every day in February.

“Bells call people to faith. They send folks forth to do good work in the world,” said Reginald Davis, the pastor of First Baptist Church. “But Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., who prayed in our church, also said that freedom rings. A silent bell represents unfinished work of freedom and equality. This bell, in this sacred and historic church, will be silent no more.”

Davis has led the congregation for the past 12 years. He says the history of First Baptist Church is an essential part of U.S. history.

“We want the American people to know that black history is American history,” Davis said. “You just cannot tease out one part of history and leave the other part out.”

First Baptist Church of Williamsburg had humble beginnings. It started as a group of slaves and free blacks in 1776. Five years later, after the previous preacher left, a slave named Gowan Pamphlet stepped up and began delivering Baptist sermons.

Religion was central to the slave community, said James Ingram, who portrays Pamphlet at the Colonial Williamsburg Museum.

“They realized that the religious teaching of the Bible was different than what they had been told,” Ingram said. “It was through the stories in the Bible that literally became the medicine that could heal their wounded souls.”

The Church of England and other white religious institutions preached that the Bible condoned slavery. But black preachers taught that in their humanity, blacks were equal to – and deserved the same rights as – whites.

“The lashings, beatings and the crucifixion of Jesus were especially important,” Ingram said. “They related to that because that’s what’s happening in their lives every single day.”

Black Baptist congregations were viewed with extra suspicion because they were associated with slave rebellions. According to Linda Rowe, a Colonial Williamsburg historian who has done extensive research on the religious life of colonists, the congregation spent a significant time meeting in wooded areas instead of inside a building.

“In the early 1800s, Gowan Pamphlet’s congregation was still meeting in a secluded area on the outskirts of Williamsburg,” Rowe said. “A local citizen heard the congregation singing and praying. This moved him to offer them a meeting place downtown.”

As the congregation grew, it gathered the resources to build a brick church in 1856. The women’s auxiliary of First Baptist raised the money to purchase a church bell for ringing during services and other special events.

In 1956, First Baptist moved to its current location at 727 Scotland St. But for the past 60 years, the church bell has been inoperable.

“There was a crack in the yoke from which it was suspended and possibly some issues with where it was mounted,” Rowe said. “The rope to pull it was in an out-of-the-way place, so it gradually fell out of disuse.”

Last year, First Baptist reached out to Colonial Williamsburg to restore the bell and highlight the church’s history. The result is the Let Freedom Ring project, in which citizens are invited to proclaim their belief in freedom and equality by ringing the restored bell.

First Baptist Church and Colonial Williamsburg have created a website – www.letfreedomringchallenge.org– for the project. There, visitors can reserve a time to go to the church and ring the historic bell. (Spots are available on weekdays and Saturdays from Feb. 1 through 29.)

After making a reservation to ring the bell, participants are urged to spread the word on social media. Recent tweets include:

During its history, First Baptist Church has hosted such civil rights icons as the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. and Rosa Parks. The Let Freedom Ring Project allows visitors and community members to recommit to black history and American values, Davis said.

“We invite people from every faith, racial group, economic group, educational group to come here and make that commitment again,” Davis said. “I believe our issues can be solved, but we have to make a commitment as a nation that we’re going to correct the wrongs.”

RICHMOND – Two freshmen legislators, a Republican and a Democrat, announced the formation of a new bipartisan caucus Monday, one targeted to make the Virginia General Assembly more accessible to the public.

The Virginia Transparency Caucus is the brainchild of Del. Mark Levine, D-Alexandria, and Sen. Amanda Chase, R-Midlothian. They want their colleagues to follow their lead in giving the public access to what happens in legislative committees and subcommittees.

“We have agreed to videotape the entire proceedings for every one of our bills – subcommittees and committees. Our constituents have a right to know what happened with our bills,” Levine said. “To become a member of the Transparency Caucus, you just have to agree to commit to make public your votes in subcommittee and committee hearings.”

Delegate Sam Rasoul, D-Roanoke, supports the new caucus. “We’re very proud to continue in that tradition and push for more transparency in the House and throughout the General Assembly.”

At the press conference, Chase voiced her opinion on the Senate rule change that moved the media from the chamber’s floor to the upper gallery, away from lawmakers.

“I don’t have a problem with the press being there on the floor, personally,” she said.

Chase indicated that the policy might be changed.

“There is a discussion going on in (the Republican) caucus right now that is private and confidential,” Chase said. “There are a number of grassroots senators who are OK with the press being on the floor, but we want to have a united front.”

Levine has already made moves to have his staff videotape the subcommittee and committee proceedings involving his bills.

“We’re just doing my bills. If other people want to videotape their bills, that’s completely up to them. Amanda and I obviously encourage them to do that. We want them to join this standard and do that ... but we’re not going to presume to tape other people’s bills,” Levine said.

“For all of my bills, my staff is going to come in, we’re going to take it, we’re going to put it on YouTube … That’s as accessible to the public as we know. Every bill that goes before subcommittee or committee, whether it lives or dies – people will know what happened to the bill and why.”

Chase said she also will post the videos on Facebook and on her own website.

Delegate John Bell, D-Chantilly, also supports the caucus.

“I believe in transparency,” he said. “My service here will be based on three things: integrity first, service before self and excellent in all we do.

“I believe integrity is absolutely the foundation of good government. While we may disagree sometimes on issues, I think we all must be transparent in what we do and what we believe.”

Bell said it’s crucial to open legislative panels to people “who can’t always travel to Richmond. It’s critically important. I’m a big believer in transparency. I applaud my colleagues and others who are taking steps towards transparency. It’s just good government.”

Legislators from both sides of the aisle are supporting the Transparency Caucus. They include Democratic Dels. Mark Keam of Vienna and Steve Heretick of Portsmouth and Republican Sen. Thomas Garrett of Hadensville.

“I have reached out to many, many others, and as names come in, I’ll let you know. But obviously this is the seed. And from the seed, we hope grows a very large oak tree,” Levine said. “Our hope is that 140 people join. But it has to start somewhere, and we’re glad to be that start.”

Garrett said transparency ensures that the government “works for the people, not the other way around.”

RICHMOND – About 200 people huddled on the Capitol grounds Monday to urge the General Assembly to pass legislation they hope will curb gun violence.

Lawmakers, students and others spoke at the rally on Martin Luther King Day, calling for what Gov. Terry McAuliffe termed “common-sense gun laws.” They also showed their support for President Barack Obama’s recent executive action to expand background checks on firearms sales.

Laurie Haas, state director of the Educational Fund to Stop Gun Violence, kicked off the rally.

“Take a deep breath in honor of the victims lost to gun violence,” Haas said. “Every time you exhale, say a prayer. We will forever remember those who have fallen victim to firearms.”

Many people attending the event held signs demanding immediate action by legislators.

“Almost once an hour, someone dies from a gunshot wound,” said Charles McKeon, one of the participants. “Ninety percent of Americans want gun control. Legislators need to give us what we want.”

In Virginia and across the country, guns are a contentious issue. On Monday afternoon, several Virginians with concealed carry permits also gathered in Capitol Square to show their support for the Second Amendment.

“Firearms can be used to protect a life – my family’s life,” said Laura Johnson, a Charlottesville resident.

Lydia Mitchell, another gun rights supporter, agreed. “Having a gun makes me feel protected, and protection is much needed in this world we live in.”

The Virginia General Assembly, which convened last week for a 60-day session, is considering dozens of laws regarding guns. Some seek to restrict who can have guns or where they can carry firearms; other proposals seek to expand gun rights.

Gov. Terry McAuliffe closed Monday’s vigil by discussing his recent executive order banning firearms from state office buildings. He said he supports limiting access to guns by people who have mental health problems or previous felony convictions or are under a current protective order to stay away from an ex-partner.

“There is a law that says you don’t have to get rid of a gun you already own if you’re a felon,” McAuliffe said. “But you can’t buy a new one. Where’s the logic? We need common-sense gun laws here in the commonwealth of Virginia.”

RICHMOND – Most Virginians support the state’s new law on reporting sexual assaults on campus, according to a poll released Monday by the Commonwealth Educational Policy Institute.

In the CEPI’s latest findings, 86 percent of Virginians support the current law, which was approved by the 2015 General Assembly and signed by Gov. Terry McAuliffe. Support for the law was greatest among parents and among Virginians age 34 to 44.

“Over 80 percent are very supportive of the legislation that came out of last year’s General Assembly requiring that all employees of the institutions be required to report sexual assaults to their Title IX coordinator,” said Dr. Robyn McDougle, interim executive director of the institute, based at Virginia Commonwealth University.

The poll, conducted Dec. 15-20, also found that 67 percent of Virginians believe that state’s college and university campuses are safe or very safe – about the same proportion as last year.

The results varied by region. For example, 75 percent of the respondents in Northern Virginia felt that college campuses were safe or very safe; however, in South-Central Virginia, the proportion was just 62 percent, and in Tidewater, only 61 percent.

For the first time, the annual poll asked participants how much they felt public colleges and universities contribute to the economic development of their communities. The CEPI found that 60 percent of Virginians felt such institutions drive economic development.

Responses varied significantly among regions of the state as well as among people with different levels of education. For example, 70 percent of respondents with a college degree believed that the presence of a college or university drives economic development, but just 54 percent of participants who have a high school diploma and have not gone to college agreed.

In Northern Virginia, 67 percent of residents said a college or university provided an economic boost to the community; however, in Tidewater, only 55 percent felt that way.

The poll involved telephone interviews with a representative sample of 801 Virginians age 18 or older. The margin of error was 4.2 percentage points.

RICHMOND – With confidence and high spirits, Democratic lawmakers and gay rights advocates on Monday kicked off their third consecutive year of fighting for an end to conversion therapy for minors in Virginia.

The controversial treatment, also known as reparative therapy, is aimed at turning homosexuals into heterosexuals and is based on the view that homosexuality is a mental disorder. Conversion therapy is also performed on those questioning their gender identity.

“This is snake oil,” Del. Patrick Hope, D-Arlington, said. “Conversion therapy can’t work, it never has worked, it’s not based on any science whatsoever. The physicians, the medical community – they have told us that. This is damaging to minors, specifically to minors.”

The practice is currently legal in Virginia. It is banned in Washington, D.C., and four states – most recently in New Jersey, with the support of Republican Gov. Chris Christie.

In recent years, conversion therapy has been denounced by several mental health organizations, including the American Psychiatric Association. A 2010 study at San Francisco State University concluded that LGBTQ youth who experienced rejection of their identity by their family were on average eight times more likely than other adolescents to attempt suicide.

For the General Assembly’s current session, which began last week, Hope has filed House Bill 427, which would prohibit health care professionals in Virginia “from engaging in conversion therapy with any person under 18 years of age.”

Two similar bills have been filed in the Senate: SB 262, by Sen. Scott Surovell, D-Mount Vernon; and SB 267, by Democratic Sens. Rosalyn Dance of Petersburg and Donald McEachin of Richmond.

Hope and Surovell held a press conference Monday, saying their bills would protect minors from a therapy that many medical experts see as harmful. The legislators said their goal is to protect children who are not mature enough to choose the treatment for themselves.

“If this were adults that were consciously choosing to go through this kind of therapy, to some extent to me, that’s a little different,” Surovell said. “But this (conversion therapy) is largely applied to children.”

The two Democrats said they hope to reach across the aisle on this issue in the 2016 legislative session.

“If you do support protecting children, there’s no reason this should not pass,” Hope said. “I’m hopeful and cautiously optimistic that this is the year where this law finally passes.”

Speakers at the news conference continually referred to conversion therapy as a form of consumer fraud – the same rationale for making it illegal in New Jersey. Hope called the therapy “fraudulent, a hoax, anti-consumer.” Surovell added, “To me, this is akin to bleeding people to cure them of a fever – to putting leeches on people’s bodies.”

President Obama last year backed the call to end conversion therapy. In response, the National Association for Research & Therapy of Homosexuality, which supports the practice, released a statement defending conversion therapy.

“No ethical licensed professional would agree to counsel with an adolescent client who was being forced into therapy,” the organization stated. “No one is asking or expecting contented gay citizens to change anything. The freedom of a gay teen to choose a therapist that honors his or her goals and values is unchallenged.”

Matthew Shurka would dispute that. Originally from New York, he underwent conversion therapy from age 16 to 21 in four different states, including Virginia, because his father objected to his sexual orientation.

Shurka now travels the country as an advocate for ending conversion therapy. At the press conference, he questioned how much freedom adolescents truly have when it comes to the decision to undergo such treatment.

“Minors who love their parents and trust their parents are being brought to state-licensed doctors who say they can cure them of homosexuality,” Shurka said. “And children then go into it, like myself, and give it their best to cure this, so they can be loved by their family and loved by their community and accepted, which is what every child really wants.”

Shurka, now 26, has stated in interviews that he has forgiven his father for reacting to his homosexuality with conversion therapy. He believes conversion therapists play on parents’ fears.

Banning this type of therapy should not be a partisan issue, Shurka said.

“It’s not about Republicans and Democrats; it’s not about party lines,” he said, “It’s about having workability for an entire population, for an entire state, for all Americans to be able to live together and be safe. Not a single medical curriculum in the country teaches conversion therapy.”

James Parrish, executive director for Equality Virginia, phrased the need for bipartisan cooperation in a more urgent way.

“It’s amazing to me that in year three, we are still talking about this bill,” he said. “Youth who undergo conversion therapy kill themselves. It’s that simple. Anyone in the General Assembly who says they support child safety or children should support these bills.”

Surovell and Hope said they hope that this will be the year their bills make it into law. Legislation banning the therapy died last year in committee on a 7-8 vote.

“This is the third year in a row, and in regard to gays and lesbians, hearts and minds are changing on a daily basis,” Surovell said. “Every year, I see more and more crossover votes on this issue.”

Emporia, VA – According to the American Red Cross, someone in the United States needs blood every two seconds. This adds up to about 41,000 units of blood that are needed to meet the daily demand. Blood products are currently being distributed to hospitals as quickly as donations are coming in, leaving an urgent need for blood and platelet donations to meet the needs of patients requiring this lifesaving gift.

Southern Virginia Regional Medical Center (SVRMC) will host a Red Cross Blood Drive on Monday, January 18th from 11:00 AM - 3:00 PM in the SVRMC Classrooms. Whether veteran or first-time donor, the process is quick (usually about 1 hour 15 minutes from start to finish) and easy, and each donation could save up to three lives. Donors are required to provide either a driver’s license or two other forms of identification, be at least 17 years of age, weigh at least 110 pounds and be in generally good health to be eligible to donate.

To schedule an appointment, contact the Red Cross at redcrossblood.org or 1-800-RED-CROSS.

RICHMOND – A procession of more than 100 disappointed citizens filed out of a Virginia State Water Control Board meeting late Thursday afternoon after the agency approved permits for Dominion Virginia Power to begin draining water from coal ash ponds on sites in Fluvanna and Prince William counties into the James and Potomac rivers.

Over the past few months, the permit applications have stirred opposition against Dominion Virginia Power by local and regional environmental groups such as the James River Association and the Southern Environmental Law Center. Although Thursday’s meeting was brimming with opponents to the plan, the board approved the permits supported by the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality.

State Sen. Scott A. Surovell, D-Fairfax, joined opponents at the meeting. He said Dominion’s plan was unsettling to more than just hard-core environmentalists.

“You’re not just hearing concerns from the environmental community,” Surovell said. “You’re hearing concerns from major institutions saying, ‘Let’s slow this down; let’s get this right.’ ”

Surovell suggested that the board consider delaying its decision to allow further study into harm that water from draining coal ash ponds might pose to the creeks and rivers – especially Quantico Creek, which is already impaired due to high concentrations of nickel in the creek bed.

The controversy even drew attention from outside the commonwealth. The Maryland Department of Natural Resources submitted a comprehensive letter to Virginia’s DEQ that contested Virginia’s standards for heavy metal concentration concerning the protection of the shared waters of the Potomac River.

Approval of the permits allows Dominion to begin discharging water immediately from coal ash ponds at Bremo Power Station, roughly 50 miles upstream of Richmond on the James River, and the Possum Point Power Station, located 30 miles south of Washington, D.C., at the confluence of the Potomac River and Quantico Creek.

Coal ash is the problematic residuum left over from burning coal and is commonly stored in retaining ponds generally on site of coal burning power plants. Potentially toxic concentrations of heavy metals inherent to coal ash include arsenic and mercury.

Cathy Taylor, Dominion’s director of Electric Environmental Services, ensured the board of her company’s consideration for human and environmental health. Before the vote, she said Dominion’s plan met all applicable laws and U.S. Environmental Protection Agency regulations.

“This approach complies with all current federal and state regulations, including the newly promulgated EPA rule,” Taylor said.

Board member Roberta A. Kellam cast the sole dissenting vote on both permit approvals. She expressed concern over the complexity of the issue and said there should be more time for review and public comment.

The permits are the first step in Dominion’s plan to close 11 coal ash ponds sited on four power plants around the state at an estimated cost of $325 million. Once the approximately 500 million gallons of contaminated water is treated and drained from these two sites, the utility must obtain further permits to bury the remaining solid coal ash with layers of protective lining, soil and vegetation.

Last September, federal regulations from the EPA set new pollution limits concerning the discharges from electric power plants into the nation’s waterways. That forced state utilities across the U.S., including Dominion Virginia Power, to reconsider their disposal of coal ash.

Most Dominion Virginia Power plants, including the sites at Bremo and Possum Point, have been converted from coal to natural gas and therefore no longer produce coal ash. Permits for draining coal ash ponds at the Chesapeake Energy Center and the coal-burning Chesterfield Power Station will be considered later this year.

RICHMOND – During his 20 years in the NBA, Moses Malone received thunderous applause from arenas full of fans. On Thursday, four months after his death, the NBA legend received another show of appreciation – from members of the Virginia Senate.

The Senate passed a resolution to commemorate Malone, a Petersburg native who died of heart disease at age 60. The measure was sponsored by Sens. Rosalyn Dance of Petersburg and R. Creigh Deeds of Bath County.

The resolution noted that Malone “grew up in the Delectable Heights community and was a standout athlete from a young age; at Petersburg High School, he led the Crimson Wave to 50 consecutive wins and back-to-back state titles in 1974 and 1975.”

Malone was the first player to enter a professional basketball league immediately after high school – initially the American Basketball Association and then the NBA. He played for the Houston Rockets, the Philadelphia 76ers, the Washington Bullets, the Atlanta Hawks, the Milwaukee Bucks and the San Antonio Spurs. He earned NBA Most Valuable Player awards in 1979, 1982 and 1983.

Malone averaged 20 points and 12 rebounds per contest during his 20-year tenure. Often referred to as the “Chairman of the Boards” for his rebounding, Malone ranks fifth all-time in rebounds and eighth all-time in scoring.

“After his well-earned retirement from professional basketball in 1995, Moses Malone returned to the Petersburg area to seek new opportunities to serve the community,” Senate Joint Resolution 16stated.

Malone died in his sleep on Sept. 13 in Norfolk, where he was scheduled to play in a charity golf tournament.

After the Senate agreed to the resolution, it was sent to the House for consideration.

RICHMOND – Most weekdays, Carmen Rodriguez, a biology professor at Virginia Commonwealth University, addresses an auditorium of about 400 students. On Thursday, her audience was more personal: She was visiting state legislators’ office and educating lawmakers about issues important to higher education.

Rodriguez was among the faculty and staff members from colleges and universities across Virginia who joined together Thursday to advocate for such issues as a 2 percent pay raise and more financial aid for undergraduate students.

Participants in this year’s Higher Education Advocacy Day focused on five items that Gov. Terry McAuliffe has included in his 2016-2018 biennial budget:

A 2 percent salary increase for higher education faculty and staff, costing $25.7 million. The raise would be effective on July 1, 2017 – the second year of the budget; there is no plan for a pay increase in 2016.

Access and completion initiatives, costing $50 million. McAuliffe’s budget proposals would provide incentives for institutions to educate and graduate more in-state students and underrepresented students.

Tuition Assistance Grants, at a cost of $2 million. This would boost the individual undergraduate grant award for students attending independent colleges to $3,400 (from the current $3,100).

The proposed budget also includes $40 million in one-time incentive packages for research; $8.1 million for an online degree completion initiative; and $24.6 million for noncredit workforce development to be offered through the Virginia Community College System.

Matthew Conrad, VCU’s executive director of government and board relations, said McAuliffe has been a friend of higher education.

“The governor has been very generous to higher education and education in general. He’s made about a billion dollars in investments in education,” Conrad said.

He said VCU’s top priority is a faculty salary increase “to keep us competitive not only among our current institutions in the state but also outside of the state.”

“We also are very much concerned with the capital bond package that the governor has included,” Conrad said. This would fund a new building for VCU’s School of Allied Health, “which aligns very closely to the governor’s goal of creating jobs.”

Besides VCU, other institutions represented at Higher Education Advocacy Day were Norfolk State University, George Mason, James Madison, Virginia Tech, the University of Virginia, Mary Washington, the University of Richmond, Randolph-Macon College and the College of William and Mary.

At an organizational meeting before going to the Capitol, Susan Hagedorn, an associate professor of English at William and Mary, passionately discussed problems in the Virginia Retirement System’s optional retirement plan for higher education. Hagedorn has created an “Occupy VRS” website about her concerns.

“There are many problems with VRS. Right now, it’s only 65 percent funded. Those of you who opted for defined benefit plan, if you’re lucky, when you retire they’ll have enough money in the system but right now, they really don’t,” Hagedorn said.

At the morning meeting, faculty members received sheets about the legislators they were going to target first. Many paired up or formed small groups to focus on certain issues together.

Two VCU faculty members, Allen Lee and Carmen Rodriguez, joined Bob Andrews, a retired VCU professor, and traveled the halls of the crowded General Assembly Building. They approached Glen Sturtevant, a newly elected senator from Chesterfield County, first.

Allen Lee, a professor in VCU’s School of Business, discussed the importance of helping students afford their education.

“I’d like to put in a special plea for assistance for students who are undergraduates,” Lee said. “I have some students who are going to school full time and working full time. These are the ones who really need assistance.”

The Higher Education Advocacy Day participants caught Sen. Siobhan Dunnavant of Henrico County briefly in the hall on her way to a meeting. They found that she also supports more funding for the TAG program.

Claudrena Harold, a history professor at U.Va., said faculty members also benefit from the day’s activities. It galvanizes their commitment to common concerns, such as academic freedom, shared governance and the issues of rising tuition and financial aid.

“With tuition increasing every year, there is concern at times that we are pushing certain folks out of the market,” Harold said. “It’s important to provide an affordable, quality education.”

RICHMOND – A federal judge Thursday denied a request by African American community leaders for an injunction preventing the Virginia Board of Elections from mailing out absentee ballots for the Republican presidential primary that require a so-called “loyalty oath.”

U.S. District Judge Hannah Lauck said in her ruling that there wasn’t sufficient evidence to allow the injunction. However, she said a trial still must be held to rule on the constitutionality of the requirement.

The decision to deny the injunction, which the plaintiffs plan to appeal, concerns a new requirement that Virginians interested in voting in the Republican primary on March 1 sign a pledge of affiliation to the GOP. This is especially relevant to voters who support the nomination of Donald Trump for president but don’t self-identify as being members of the Republican Party.

Lauck called the requested injunction “an extraordinary remedy.” She said the “plaintiffs did not present evidence sufficient to show a likelihood of success on the merits on their constitutional claims.”

The lawsuit was filed after the Virginia Board of Elections last month approved a request by the state GOP that voters in the Republican presidential primary be required to sign a statement saying, “My signature below indicates that I am a Republican.”

In the suit, three Virginia ministers and leaders in the African American community argued that the requirement would violate minority voters’ civil rights by discouraging people who don’t typically vote as Republicans from casting ballots in the state’s normally open primary.

While some states register voters by party and allow only party members to vote in primaries, until now Virginia has not done so.

“To be Republican ... the Republicans are considered racist. Anyone [in the African American community] who would sign this, great persecution would fall on them,” said Stephen Parson, one of the plaintiffs.

Parson also said such a requirement would create delays in voting. In his opinion, many people would be caught off guard about the requirement and hesitate or abstain from voting entirely.

The defense disagreed.

“Dr. Parson admitted that, other than himself and perhaps his fellow plaintiffs, he was unaware of any voter who did not intend to vote in the Republican Party presidential primary because of the RPV’s decision to require execution of the voter statement,” the defendants said in a brief filed Wednesday.

The brief argued that Parson’s testimony was hearsay and that it “simply repeated” allegations contained in the initial complaint.

“They offered no more than naked, conclusory statements that such detrimental effects might occur, and provided no evidence (or even well-pleaded factual allegations) that any of these hypothetical injuries plausibly would occur as a result of the Republican Party of Virginia’s voter statement,” the brief said.

Lauck agreed with the defense in issuing her decision.

However, in a ruling filed late Thursday, she said that the case “does raise concern as to the State Board of Elections duties to avoid voter confusion and to preserve the integrity of, and order in, the electoral process.”

Lauck said the in-person voting procedure remains poorly organized, citing the Board of Elections’ recent disclosure that the in-person voting procedure will include the use of a provisional ballot. While this is not inherently illegal, it would potentially create confusion for unaffiliated voters who did not want to declare their affiliation with the Republican Party.

The judge concluded that the parties involved should make preparations to schedule the forthcoming court case. It remains unclear how these proceedings will affect the Republican primary results in the state.

News headlines recently focused on the startling announcement that the number of people in America’s middle-income tier had fallen to less than half of the nation’s population. Some families moved out of the middle class by climbing the socioeconomic ladder into greater wealth. Many others, however, slipped into poverty. The shrinking of the middle class and corresponding increases in income inequality pose significant concerns because sustaining a vibrant middle class is vital to our nation’s economic health.

In this regard, Virginia faces unique challenges. The Commonwealth has suffered lost employment opportunities within the tobacco and coal industries, and force reductions within the military sector have increased the numbers of our neighbors who are seeking employment.

Yet employers also face challenges. In a recent study done by Burning Glass Technologies, a company specializing in labor market analytics, employers reported difficulties in finding qualified skilled workers. The study estimated that more than $1 billion in potential wages had been lost as Virginia’s employers struggled to fill open positions. The situation is especially acute here in Southside Virginia where our employment figures continue to lag behind those of other regions.

To help address these concerns, Virginia’s community colleges developed a comprehensive plan to expand worker-training programs and ensure that our labor force has the credentials employers require. As a partner in this effort, Southside Virginia Community College is committed to tripling the number of credentials earned by students. Last year, in addition to awarding hundreds of associate’s degrees in various fields, the college also prepared students for state licensing in several different nursing fields and helped other students achieve certifications in work-related areas. In fact, SVCC students can currently pursue many different industry-recognized credentials from entities such as the National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence (ASE), American Welding Society (AWS), and National Center for Construction Education and Research (NCCER), National Institute for Metalworking Skills (NIMS), and Microsoft. Furthermore, we’re working with businesses right here in Southside Virginia to identify which additional certifications or other credentials will best prepare workers for more and better jobs.

Expanding the availability of financial aid is another important part of this work. Data demonstrate that the low-income and out-of-work students who are most poised to benefit from short-term workforce training opportunities are the least able to afford the tuition. For this reason, SVCC is working alongside our sister institutions within the Virginia Community College System to encourage legislative support to expand access to short-term training financial aid for individuals pursuing in-demand and high-demand credentials.

As individual successes lead to increasing prosperity for families, the economic vitality of Southside Virginia will be assured. At SVCC, we are eager to help our neighbors achieve career goals through the attainment of credentials that will enhance our region’s reputation for the quality and competitiveness of its workforce.

Dr. Al Roberts is president of Southside Virginia Community College, an institution of higher learning that provides a wide variety of education opportunities to a diverse student population within a service area that spans ten counties and the city of Emporia. He can be reached via email at al.roberts@southside.edu.

RICHMOND – Gov. Terry McAuliffe is urging the General Assembly to join him in a bipartisan effort to create jobs in the commonwealth.

“If we work together during the next 60 days, we can expand economic opportunities for everyone in the Commonwealth,” McAuliffe said in his State of the Commonwealth Address on the first night of the 2016 legislative session. “We will show that we in Virginia don’t back down from a challenge.”

With the relationship between the Democratic governor and the Republican-led General Assembly as contentious as ever, McAuliffe touted economic growth and investment across all sectors.

McAuliffe just returned from a trip to Cuba, where he brokered a trade deal. (In the middle of Wednesday night’s speech, he gave Republican House Speaker William Howell of Stafford a Cuban cigar.) The governor also noted other international trade agreements, such as Virginia apples being sold to India and poultry being shipped to Oman.

Continuing the theme of the need for bipartisan job creation, McAuliffe called attention to the state’s efforts to boost solar power and other alternative energy sources. Such moves will attract companies and offer manufacturing opportunities, he said.

Also in his speech, McAuliffe directly challenged Republican lawmakers by again prodding them to expand Medicaid, the health care program for low-income residents. He said even conservative states such as Utah and Louisiana have elected to do so under the federal Affordable Care Act.

“I am convinced that we can find a bipartisan, Virginia solution that totally protects our commonwealth’s finances while taking advantage of this historic opportunity to make our state a better place to live,” McAuliffe said.

Following a national trend to roll back the federal No Child Left Behind Act, the governor also advocated limiting standardized testing in schools while maintaining quality education.

“You cannot build an economy for 2050 with a 1950s approach to education,” he said.

In the Republican response to governor’s speech, Del. Rob Bell of Albemarle and Sen. Frank Ruff of Mecklenburg said the GOP would use its majority in the House and Senate to challenge McAuliffe on key issues.

Ruff said Republicans will fight McAuliffe’s efforts to expand Medicaid as part of President Obama’s new health care law.

“One area where we will not be in agreement with Gov. McAuliffe is Obamacare,” Ruff said. “While the governor’s budget again includes the federal program’s Medicaid expansion scheme, we believe this initiative threatens critically important priorities like education.”

Medicaid costs are rising even without expansion, Ruff said.

“Even without the optional federal expansion, mandated spending on Medicaid will take an even higher share of state spending in the new budget,” he said. “Expanding the program further would not be prudent, and would only increase the funding pressures on other state core services.”

Bell addressed Republican grievances over executive actions taken by McAuliffe and Attorney General Mark Herring. In recent months, the governor banned firearms from state buildings, and Herring declared that Virginia would no longer honor concealed handgun permits from 25 states that he said do not meet the commonwealth’s standards.

“Our system of government is founded on the constitutional principles of a separation of powers,” Bell said. “As has become all too common in Washington, here in Richmond we have seen Gov. McAuliffe and Attorney General Herring use executive actions and appointments to circumvent these constitutional limitations and undermine the balance envisioned by our founders.”

The Republican response to McAuliffe’s speech included areas of agreement with the governor.

Ruff said Republicans want to prepare Virginians for the changing economy and create an environment that will draw employers.

“To better prepare our workforce for the demands of a rapidly changing economy, the budget we approve will include initiatives to encourage more Virginians to complete educational programs that lead to certification in high-demand fields,” he said.

“By investing in workforce training targeted to growing industries, we can make Virginia even more attractive to employers.”

The senator acknowledged common interests the Republicans share with McAuliffe.

“As a member of one of the two legislative committees that will consider the governor’s proposed budget, I know we will find common ground with him on efforts to increase funding for our public schools, for mental health care, for public safety, and for our veterans.”

RICHMOND – The Virginia General Assembly opened Wednesday, introducing 18 novice legislators, squabbling briefly across party lines and courting a fight with the media.

Curiously, the press tables located on the Senate floor as recently as Tuesday afternoon were no longer available for use by the press. According to published reports, Senate Majority Leader Thomas Norment, R-James City County, made the decision to relegate the press to the upper balcony.

“You’ll get used to this refrain during this session: I have no comment,” Norment told the Richmond Times-Dispatch.

Little mention was made by legislators about the unusual decision to restrict the media’s access, except by Lt. Gov. Ralph Northam.

“We need more transparency in the General Assembly, not less,” Northam, a Democrat who serves as the Senate’s presiding officer, said in a statement. “Removing members of the press from the floor only makes their jobs more difficult and, in the end, is a disservice to Virginians.”

Another dispute also emerged in the Senate over rules governing committee appointments, presented by the chairman of the Senate Rules Committee, Sen. Ryan McDougle, R-Hanover.

According to Democrats, the new rules would allow the majority party in the Senate to stack committees with its members. The Senate currently has 21 Republicans and 19 Democrats.

As a result, Sen. John Miller, D-Newport News, presented Senate Resolution 22, which would have based committee assignments on merit and given the minority party more representation.

Norment opposed the resolution, saying “areas of expertise are already considered” in committee assignments. Senate Resolution 22 was voted down along party lines, 21-19.

Apart from the squabbles over committee appointments, the mood in the Senate remained light.

Seven new senators took their oaths of office:

Republicans Amanda Chase and Glen H. Sturtevant of Chesterfield County, Siobhan Dunnavant of Henrico County, William DeSteph of Virginia Beach and David Suetterlein of Roanoke

The Senate voted unanimously to make Sen. Stephen B. Newman, R-Lynchburg, its president pro tempore. Susan Clarke Schaar was re-elected as clerk of the Senate.

Howell Re-elected as House Speaker

In the House, proceedings ran incredibly dry until Democratic Del. Mark Sickles of Fairfax, nominated Republican Del. William Howell of Stafford to continue as speaker of the House.

Republican outnumber Democrats in the House, 66-34. So it was a foregone conclusion that the GOP would hold the most powerful position in the chamber. Sickles and other delegates seemed intent on making light of the partisanship that often plagues the legislature.

“It can seem like we’re always waiting for the body on the other side of the hall to do something -- to do anything, really,” Sickles said in his introduction, which on several occasions garnered laughs from both sides of the aisle.

Sickles said the House has a responsibility to serve the commonwealth in a fiscally responsible manner. He urged his colleagues to push the “green button” for Howell, who he said would forge a “dynamic plan” and work with “bipartisan spirit.”

“We may not be able to resolve our differences, but our future is as bright as we make it,” Sickles concluded.

Howell was re-elected with a 99-0 vote and a standing ovation. Donald Lemons, chief justice of the Virginia Supreme Court, administered the oath of office.

“I’m humbled by the trust you’ve placed in me to lead this distinguished body again,” Howell said, adding, “None of us are entitled to the seats we hold.”

Howell reiterated that his position, as well as any other elected office, comes with significant responsibilities and duties to not just one party, but the people of the commonwealth.

He then welcomed 11 new House members to “Mr. Jefferson’s Capitol,” and alluded to James Madison and Patrick Henry as “constant reminders” of the legislative body’s responsibilities.

Howell then turned his remarks toward the House’s priorities this session, beginning with the budget.

Republicans have ideological differences with Gov. Terry McAuliffe and other Democrats over health care, gun laws, gay marriage and abortion. But Howell chose to focus on issues on which the left and right share common ground.

“We need to be focused on real solutions to our fellow citizens,” Howell said, before he addressed the importance of the state economy, business and entrepreneurial opportunities.

He also stressed the importance of a “strong education system and providing flexibility and choice to parents and students,” before tipping his hat to President Obama’s support of charter schools empowering students of all backgrounds.

Howell noted that twice, McAuliffe has been shot down by the General Assembly for trying to expand Medicaid in Virginia. However, the speaker stressed that the legislature should aim to improve access to health care and strengthen the mental and behavioral health systems in a “fiscally responsible” manner.

“We’re not always going to agree, but we will exchange lengthy dialogue on how to move Virginia forward,” Howell said, “We have a long road ahead, and I’m confident we will find success.”

The political battle over guns in Virginia is shifting to the state Capitol as the General Assembly convenes Wednesday for its 2016 session.

The state’s leading Democrats fired the latest shots: In October, Gov. Terry McAuliffe banned weapons from state buildings. Then last month, Attorney General Mark Herring announced that the commonwealth would no longer recognize concealed handgun permits issued by 25 states that he said do not meet Virginia’s standards.

Those moves outraged Republican legislators. Del. Todd Gilbert of Shenandoah, for example, accused Herring of having a “partisan, political goal of denying law-abiding citizens the right to protect and defend themselves.”

So it’s no surprise that the General Assembly will take up the issue. As of Tuesday, legislators had filed almost 70 bills about firearms, guns or other weapons.

Republicans are sponsoring several measures to expand Virginians’ right to carry weapons. For example, with House Bill 593, Del. Robert Marshall, R-Manassas, seeks to invalidate McAuliffe’s Executive Order 50, which prohibits the carrying of firearms in buildings occupied by executive branch agencies.

Marshall also is carrying HB 83, which would prevent Virginia state employees from enforcing new federal firearms laws, including criminal background checks in gun sales or other transactions.

And Marshall’s HB 79 would allow full-time faculty members at public colleges and universities carry a handgun on campus if they have a concealed weapons permit.

Along the same lines, newly elected Del. Nicholas Freitas, R-Culpeper, is sponsoring HB 761, which “prohibits public institutions of higher education from adopting or enforcing any rules prohibiting a female who possess a valid Virginia concealed handgun permit from carrying a concealed handgun on campus.”

Sen. Thomas Garrett, R-Hadensville, is taking aim at Herring’s decision to reject the concealed handgun permits of more than two dozen states. Under Senate Bill 178, sponsored by Garrett, the General Assembly – not the attorney general – would determine whether Virginia should honor other states’ concealed carry permits.

Democratic legislators, who are in the minority in both the House and Senate, also are sponsoring a bevy of gun-related measures. Generally, they want to make it harder for people to buy or carry firearms.

For instance, Del. Kaye Kory of Falls Church has filed HB 482, which would require background checks on firearms sales at gun shows. Currently, gun-show vendors don’t have to perform such checks unless they are federally licensed gun dealers.

Newly elected Del. John Bell, D-Chantilly, wants to tighten the rules for getting a concealed handgun permit in Virginia. Current law allows applicants to complete an online or video course in firearms training or safety; Bell’s HB 617 would require that the course be taken in person.

Under SB 214, sponsored by Sen. Barbara Favola, D-Arlington, and HB 425, by Del. Marcus Simon of Falls Church, Virginians who are in the federal Terrorist Screening Database could not buy or possess guns. (At the federal level, Republicans have opposed such proposals because they say the database is flawed.)

To a large extent, the gun debate at the Virginia Capitol echoes the controversy over firearms in the nation’s capital.

Last week, President Obama, with tears in his eyes, gave a speech lamenting gun violence. He said he was taking executive actions to address the problem by requiring all businesses that sell guns – including at firearms shows – to be licensed and conduct background checks.

Herring, who attended Obama’s announcement, called the president’s action “important steps to promote public safety, prevent gun violence and keep guns away from criminals and other dangerous people.”

“We are all touched by attacks like the one in San Bernardino, and we all grieve for those who have lost so much as a result. But to end this kind of violence, we need to address the real, underlying causes of these attacks,” Wittman said on Facebook.

“Limiting our constitutionally guaranteed rights is never the answer. That is why it’s so important for us to affirmatively protect the Second Amendment rights of law-abiding citizens by advancing legislation like the Concealed Carry Reciprocity Act of 2015.”

That federal legislation would allow anyone with a valid concealed weapons permit from any state to carry firearms “in accordance to restrictions within that state.”

-30-

More on the Web

To track or comment on legislation involving firearms or other issues, visit the Richmond Sunlight website: www.richmondsunlight.com/

Here is a list of all bills before the Virginia General Assembly whose descriptions mention guns, firearms or weapons:

Billr

Description

Patron

HB12

Concealed handgun permits, out-of-state; photo identification.

Ware

HB51

Weapons other than handguns; purchase by certain officers.

Miller

HB76

Concealed handguns; authorization and training for persons designated to carry on school property.

Dr. Ron Crews is a retired US military chaplain (COL). He currently holds the position of executive director for the Chaplain Alliance for Religious Liberty, a group of chaplain advocates who speaks in behalf of over 2,700 military chaplains.

Before retiring Dr. Crews served 28 years as an Army chaplain on active duty. His assignments included service in the 82nd and 101st Airborne Divisions as well as deputy installation chaplain for program at Fort Campbell, Kentucky. While serving he earned several military awards, including the Legion of Merit, Meritorious Service Medal, and the Army Commendation Medal.

Dr. Crews also served three terms as a state legislator for the Georgia House of Representatives, 1993-1998; and is a past President of the Massachusetts Family Institute, where he was a leading advocate for issues that impact families statewide and national.

Ron has been a guest commentator on many major News Networks and a regular on Fox News. He has appeared this past year numerous of times before Congress, both the House and Senate speaking in behalf of Chaplains and the religious liberties of our military men and woman.

Dr. Crews received his doctorate in Ministry from Trinity Evangelical Divinity School, a Master’s degree in Divinity from Columbia Seminary, and a Bachelor’s degree from Stetson University. He has served as a Pastor and been an agent representative for Grace Churches Int.

He will be our guest speaker in our 10:30 morning service January 17, 2016 at Emmanuel Worship Center Emporia, 4910 E. Atlantic St., Emporia, VA. He will be speaking in behalf of the rights of our Christian men and women in the military.

Emporia, VA – Stacy Eubanks, MS, CCC-SLP, Speech-Language Pathologist at Southern Virginia Regional Medical Center (SVRMC), recently traveled to Haiti as a Missionary with Vessels of Mercy International. Vessels of Mercy International is a nonprofit relief and development organization committed to alleviating human suffering and poverty by carrying God’s love and hope to a world in need.

As a Speech-Language Pathologist, Ms. Eubanks diagnoses and treats speech, language, voice, and swallowing disorders in children and adults in both outpatient and inpatient settings. Along with being a missionary with Vessels of Mercy International, she is also a credentialed minister with the Assemblies of God.

Stacy Eubanks Performs a Swallow Evaluation

Ms. Eubanks, along with a team of 5 other volunteers, traveled to Haiti in November 2015 to hold daily clinics in areas where there is little to no access to medical care. During their 8-day visit, the team treated approximately 500 infants, children, and adults who needed care for a variety medical problems, including parasites, malnutrition, dehydration, skin rashes, and malaria. Ms. Eubanks was able to use her speech-language pathology skills during the medical clinics to diagnose swallowing disorders and provide education to patients and caregivers to improve swallow safety and quality of life.

Haiti is one of the poorest countries in the western hemisphere and is still in the process of recovering from a devastating earthquake in 2010, which killed hundreds of thousands of people and left millions displaced. Vessels of Mercy International has been in Haiti since before the earthquake and continues to partner with a local organization to help bring relief to those who are suffering with treatable illnesses and to care for orphans.

For the last few years Emporia News has carried news of the General Assembly provided by Virginia Commonwealth University's Capital News Service. Emporia News will, again, carry stories provided by CNS for 2016. While not every CNS story will appear on the front page, I will publish every article that they send. Click on the "Capital News Service" menu link to see them.

The Capital News Service is actually a class, and the people writing the articles that will appear in publications statewide are students.

About CNS (from their website)

Capital News Service is a flagship program of VCU’s Richard T. Robertson School of Media and Culture. Students participating in the program provide state government coverage for Virginia’s community newspapers and other media outlets, under the supervision of Associate Professor Jeff South.

CNS operates as a three-credit course (formally listed as MASC 475) during spring semesters, when the General Assembly is in session. Each CNS student is assigned to serve one or more clients. Students must devote substantial time outside class to CNS — at least 10 hours a week. The students in MASC 475 meet twice a week to discuss and plan stories and work on reporting and writing skills.

During the fall semesters, the CNS system occasionally is used to distribute stories students do for other courses, such as MASC 404 (Specialized/Projects Reporting). Throughout the year, CNS can help newspaper editors find VCU students who can do freelance stories, internships and other assignments.

Wilma Wirt, who has since retired from the mass comm faculty, established CNS in 1994 for two reasons:

To give VCU’s journalism students an opportunity to actively cover and write about the Virginia General Assembly.

To give the state’s weekly, twice-weekly and thrice-weekly newspapers better access to the legislature — something Wirt deemed important in the everyday lives of all Virginians.

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Tim Kaine released the following statement after President Obama delivered his final State of the Union address tonight:

“Tonight, President Obama reflected on the significant progress our country has made over the past seven years and challenged us to reach higher. After assuming office in the midst of a global fiscal collapse and two open-ended wars, President Obama has patiently worked to rebuild a more sustainable economy, inspire an innovative and cleaner energy future, advance the equality and health of all citizens and reinvigorated diplomacy as a major measure of American strength. Challenges remain, at home and abroad, but the American spirit is strong and it stands in stark contrast to the histrionic pessimism emanating from a few headline grabbing presidential candidates.

“I appreciate President Obama’s renewed call for Congress to finally come together to recognize ISIL as our enemy and authorize the use of military force against the terrorist group, but I’m disappointed another State of the Union has gone by without action from our country’s elected leaders on this critical issue – one that has left our servicemembers deployed to fight over the past 17 months without the most important signal of support we can offer.

“I am also pleased the President touched on the issue of opioid abuse – a growing epidemic in Virginia and the reason I invited Don Flattery, a resident of Alexandria, to be my guest tonight. Don lost his son Kevin – a 26-year-old graduate of the University of Virginia – to an opioid overdose in 2014. Don is such a powerful advocate because his story shows us that this epidemic goes beyond shocking statistics; it’s impacting families from all walks of life and robbing us of young people like Kevin who have incredible potential. I’m hopeful Congress will soon take action to help stop the opioid addiction crisis by increasing access to the life-saving drug Naloxone, addressing the over-prescription of opioids, ensuring those in need have affordable treatment options and improving prevention efforts in communities across the country.”

RICHMOND – Democrats in the Virginia House of Delegates vowed Monday to fight for prison and health-care reforms, more education funding and better job training during the General Assembly’s 2016 legislative session, which starts Wednesday.

At a press conference, 18 of the 33 Democratic delegates detailed their caucus’ plan to support Gov. Terry McAuliffe’s workforce initiative, called “the New Virginia Economy.”

“We support the governor’s initiative so that we can invest in Virginia,” said Del. Charniele Herring of Alexandria, who chairs the House Democratic Caucus. “Together we can pave the way forward creating programs and job training for jobs that exist today, so that people can get the training that they need, jobs they desperately need, to be filled right here at home.”

The House minority leader, Del. David Toscano of Charlottesville, agreed.

“Workforce training is significant, but it’s not just workforce training to give people a certificate for a job that exists,” Toscano said. “Otherwise we’re wasting people’s time, and putting people more in debt, and then people are not getting good jobs that pay them a living wage.”

The delegates expressed confidence that they would also be able to accomplish their goals despite being outnumbered by Republicans, who make up 67 of the 100 House members.

“I think by nature, the general sense of this group is we’re pretty optimistic people, and we believe in the power of rational argument,” Toscano said. “And we do believe that when you look at the financial elements of this, it has to appeal to people who look at things financially.”

As part of a “wide variety of public safety and criminal justice reforms,” Toscano said Virginia Democrats also support laws they believe will reduce gun violence.

“It’s important at least in our view that we get mandatory universal background checks, that we close the gun-show loophole, that we provide better protection for those who have gotten protective orders against folks who might hurt them,” he said.

Toscano said Democrats would support Senate Bill 49, proposed by Sen. Janet Howell, D-Reston. It would prohibit anyone who is subject to a protective order from possessing a firearm; currently, such individuals are prohibited only from purchasing or transporting firearms.

RICHMOND – More than two-thirds of Virginians think public schools aren’t adequately funded, and most residents of the commonwealth would support paying more in taxes to enhance student performance, according to a statewide poll released Monday.

The Commonwealth Educational Policy Institute released the findings as the General Assembly prepared to convene on Wednesday. According to the CEPI’s15th annual Commonwealth Education poll:

● 67 percent of Virginians say public schools do not have enough funds to meet their needs

● 63 percent would be supportive if the funding targeted low-performing schools

“We try to put our poll out every year at the start of the General Assembly so that all the members, the governor and his executives can have an idea of what the opinions by region are around the Commonwealth,” said Robyn McDougle, interim executive director of the institute, based at Virginia Commonwealth University.

Although Virginians support increasing, or at least maintaining, the current status of K-12 funding, McDougle said the breakdown varies by political party, with Democrats being more supportive of education funding even if it requires tax increases.

Under McAuliffe’s proposed budget, education and health and human services would receive the most sizable portions of state funding in the upcoming biennium.

“I don’t know that it’ll help things go over more smoothly, but it’s always good to have nonpartisan data,” McDougle said.

The state’s Direct Aid to Public Educationcurrently totals about $5.56 billion. The proposed budget would boost that to $5.83 billion in 2017 and $6.14 billion in 2018. Most of the money would fund initiatives such as school breakfast programs for low-income children, higher salaries for educators and alternatives to disciplinary actions such as suspensions for at-risk youth.

McDougle said that in creating the poll, the CEPI collaborated with Peter Blake, director of the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia, and Anne Holton, Virginia’s secretary of education.

“We showed them the questions and got some feedback on what questions they’d like to include,” McDougle said. “We like them to be stakeholders just like other members of the community.”

The poll also found that most Virginians have concerns about high-stakes testing such as the state’s Standards of Learning assessments.

“They believe the purpose of SOLs are to improve performance and achievement,” McDougle said. “But the way we’re testing, the majority feel teachers are spending too much time focusing on the testing.”

According to the CEPI findings, constituents feel that because of the test-centric classroom environment, important material gets bypassed and that the SOLs put too much pressure on students.

The poll also asked about how safe people believe their K-12 schools are. Most Virginians – especially in the western and northern parts of the state – said their schools were “safe” or “very safe.” The biggest concern was in the Tidewater area, where 28 percent of respondents felt their schools were not safe.

“Especially with everything we’re seeing across the country right now, it’s really nice to see our citizens feel where their children are going is safe,” McDougle said. She said respondents thought increased school security and mental health services would help bolster safety in schools.

McDougle said her team will provide copies of the poll data to all members of McAuliffe’s cabinet and the education and health committees in the House and Senate. She said she will most likely present the results directly during committee meetings as well.

The Commonwealth Education Poll used a representative sample of 801 Virginia adults, interviewed by landline and cell phone. The survey was conducted by Princeton Survey Research Associates International from Dec. 15-20. The margin of error was 4.2 percentage points.

GREENSVILLE COUNTY – Safety is the biggest priority for the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT), and the Hampton Roads District is urging motorists to obey all traffic and detour signs posted around the Route 301 Southbound Bridge Replacement Project in Greensville County. Recently, drivers have been observed traveling the wrong way over the Route 301 Northbound Bridge to avoid the construction detour, resulting in several near-collisions.

Beginning today, January 4, 2016, Virginia State Police will step up enforcement near the bridge and issue reckless driving citations to motorists exhibiting dangerous driving patterns. Drivers traveling southbound will use I-95 as the detour around the bridge closure.

The Route 301 Bridge Replacement Project is currently on schedule for completion in summer 2017. The old bridge has been demolished, and crews are currently working on building the new bridge approaches. For more information, please visit VDOT’s project website:

RICHMOND – Virginia’s Finest will welcome 74 additional new troopers and one special agent accountant to the Department’s ranks Friday, Jan. 8, 2016, following the 123rd Basic Session’s graduation ceremony. Commencement exercises begin at 10 a.m. in the Virginia State Police Gymnasium at 7700 Midlothian Turnpike in North Chesterfield.

“Law enforcement is one of the most honorable calls to service,” says Colonel W. Steven Flaherty, Virginia State Police Superintendent. “Why endure 28 weeks of a physical, emotional and demanding academic environment? It’s because the men and women who take this oath have a passion to protect their communities and understand what it means to sacrifice and serve.”

A highlight of the graduation ceremony is when the new troopers receive their state police diplomas. Typically, Colonel Flaherty hands them their certificate but in some instances, the new trooper can select a family member who currently serves or is retired from a local, state or federal law enforcement agency. This year, 12 members of the 123rd Basic School will receive their diploma from such a family member.

The state police graduates are comprised of individuals from every part of the Commonwealth to also include the states of Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, New Jersey, New York, and Pennsylvania. The class also graduates an individual born in the Czech Republic. Many in the class sought out the Virginia State Police because “I have always wanted to be in law enforcement, and help protect and serve my family and community” and “my family and I owe a great deal to the nation and state due to the opportunities granted to us and my service to the Department, the state and the nation is the least I could do.”

A number of the new troopers, prior to entering the Academy served with other law enforcement agencies and/or with a branch of the military. The 123rd Basic Session yields more than 50 years of previous law enforcement and corrections experience, as well as almost 135 years of prior military service.

Members of the 123rd Basic Session began their probationary training phase Feb. 25, 2015, followed by 28 weeks of academic, physical and practical training at the Academy. The probationary phase requires trainees to complete two and a half weeks of introductory training at the Academy before being assigned to a Field Training Officer (FTO). The new troopers have received more than 1,600 hours of classroom and field instruction in more than 100 different subjects, including crime scene investigation, survival Spanish, judicial procedures, self defense, cultural diversity and firearms.

Following graduation, the new troopers’ final phase of training begins Monday, Jan. 11, 2016, when they report for their individual duty assignments. Each trooper will spend a minimum of six weeks with an FTO learning his or her new patrol area and day-to-day duties.

Emporia, VA – Southern Virginia Regional Medical Center (SVRMC) has named its 2015 Managers and Employee of the Year. Employees and managers are nominated for these awards by their colleagues based on their commitment to patient care, their professionalism, and their contributions on the job. The recognitions are the highest honors hospital employees can receive.

Clinical Manager of the Year

KandyPoarch, RN, BSN, Director of Emergency Services, has been employed at SVRMC since 1998. She is responsible for the delivery of patient care that promotes the safety and well-being of all patients in the Emergency Department on a twenty-four hour basis. Ms. Poarch’s coworkers had the following to say about her: “Kandy is one of the best bosses I have ever had. She is fair, compassionate, and always available. Kandy is the hub of the ED; she keeps it working as a team.”

Non-Clinical Manager of the Year

Ronnie Franklin, Director of Security, has been employed at SVRMC since 2009. He is responsible for the safety of patients, employees, visitors, and all persons within the hospital facility or on the hospital premises. Mr. Franklin’s coworkers had the following to say about him: “Ronnie exemplifies great management skills with his employees. His actions always contribute to the overall good of the patients, staff and hospital. Ronnie’s positive attitude makes being employed at SVRMC a joy.”

Employee of the Year

Helen Wilson, RN, Clinical Coordinator of Outpatient Surgery, has been employed at SVRMC since 1978. Ms. Wilson provides care to patients undergoing both surgery and minor outpatient procedures. Her coworkers had the following to say about her: “Once you meet Helen you will never forget her. Her smile lights up a room. I know I can depend on Helen in times of need.”

TopHand Sports is hosting their first annual Steak Dinner and Social to raise money for their travel baseball/softball teams to participate in out-of-state tournaments for the upcoming season. TopHand Sports has youth from all over Southeastern Virginia and North Carolina on their teams who would greatly appreciate your support. The reverse raffle associated with this event will give out $3,850 including a grand prize of $3,000; you don’t have to be present to win this raffle. The date of this event is Saturday, February 6, 2015 at the Golden Leaf Commons in Emporia, VA.

Tickets include 2 drink tickets of your choice and a delicious steak. We will sell 150 Reverse Raffle Tickets for a chance at the $3,000 grand prize.

Emporia, VA - Consumers who have not yet signed up for health insurance through the government’s Health Insurance Marketplace still have time—but two important deadlines are fast approaching.

A plan must be selected and the premium paid by January 15to obtain coverage by February 1; for coverage effective March 1, the plan and premium must be finalized by January 31.

Southern Virginia Regional Medical Center continues to offer free application assistance to help individuals evaluate insurance options on the Marketplace and complete their application forms. However, the medical center’s certified assistors are encouraging those needing help to reserve appointments early, as schedules typically book quickly this month. Call 434-348-4406or visit SVRMC.com to make an appointment.

Increased penalties for 2016 are driving many newcomers to the Marketplace, as most individuals must choose between purchasing insurance and paying a fine. Fines are $695 per adult, $347.50 per child, and up to $2,085 per family or 2.5% of family income—whichever is higher. The fines will be assessed when 2016 federal tax returns are filed.

According to the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services (HHS), the great majority of consumers purchasing plans on the Marketplace are qualifying for financial assistance; this reduces their premium cost—which is the monthly fee charged for coverage. Most are expected to pay less than $75 per month.

All health plans on the Marketplace must offer a comprehensive set of benefits, and coverage cannot be denied for individuals with a pre-existing health condition. Some of the mandatory health benefits include free preventive care and wellness services, doctor visits, prescription drugs, hospital and emergency department care, lab services and pediatric services.

Blackstone, Va. ― Southside Virginia Community College (SVCC) early in 2016 will begin offering a training program designed to address the projected critical shortage of skilled electric utility line workers. This program, which will involve 11 weeks of intensive classroom and hands-on training, will ready its graduates for employment as apprentice line workers at electric utilities.

And thanks to Virginia’s 13 consumer-owned electric cooperatives, this type of pre-apprentice training will become a reality at a time when skilled line workers are needed to replace the wave of retirements expected in the industry over the next few years. And, such training will be provided in Southside Virginia, a region of the state hungry for more skilled workforce training to allow its young people to remain in the area to work and raise families.

“Supporting our communities is what co-ops are all about,” noted Southside Electric Cooperative President and CEO Jeffrey S. Edwards. His utility developed a prototype “Day in the Life of a Lineman” program with local schools, which served as a springboard to spark and feed interest among area young people in careers as line workers. “We have been very gratified at the response among high school students in our communities, who want challenging, rewarding careers that will allow them to remain in rural Southside Virginia,” he explained.

“We’re extremely pleased to have had this opportunity to work with Governor McAuliffe, Southside Virginia Community College, and the entire Community College System, to help train our young people for great careers as line workers, and to provide a needed boost to Southside Virginia,” said John C. Lee, Jr., president and CEO of Mecklenburg Electric Cooperative another strong, early proponent of the school.

“Innovation is the cornerstone of Southside Virginia Community College. The Line Worker Program is another example of our willingness to pioneer programs in response to local and regional industry needs. The Power Line Worker Program offers national credentials for those completing it. This is an exciting prospect for our college and our students,” said Dr. Al Roberts, SVCC President

SVCC’s new Power Line Worker Training Program was one of five successful entries in the first Governor’s Competition for Talent Solutions, announced earlier this fall. The Power Line Worker Training Program will benefit from a $200,000 matching incentive grant intended to provide new workforce training options and develop the state’s rural economy as part of the Rural Virginia Horseshoe Initiative. Former Virginia Governor Gerald L. Baliles heads up the rural workforce training initiative as chairman of the community college system’s foundation.

“Awarding these grants exemplifies the Commonwealth’s commitment to building a demand-driven workforce system,” said Governor McAuliffe. “We’re excited about the innovative solutions put forth and we look forward to working together with our community colleges and the private sector to train a new generation of highly skilled talent that will help us build a new Virginia economy.”

Thanks to a separate grant received earlier this year from SVCC’s Equipment Trust Fund, seed money was available to begin planning the Power Line Worker Training Program at SVCC’s Occupational/ Technical Center, located at Blackstone’s Pickett Park, site of the former U.S. Army base, Fort Pickett.

At that point, with encouragement from Edwards, Lee and Rappahannock Electric Cooperative President and CEO Kent D. Farmer, Virginia’s electric cooperatives quickly rallied behind the planned training program, providing support in an array of ways, from donations of materials and equipment, to financial assistance, to technical advice on how to design the program and set up the training yard.

“Cooperatives strongly support workforce training in the communities we serve, and of course the training that will take place at this new school will help provide our cooperatives with a pool of excellent young candidates for line worker positions,” pointed out Rappahannock CEO Kent Farmer. “So it was a natural fit for Virginia’s electric cooperatives to support both the Rural Horseshoe Initiative that will impact all rural areas, and specifically this line worker school that will benefit our workforce.”

“We literally could not have gotten this line worker program going without the strong support of Virginia’s electric cooperatives,” said Keith Harkins, vice president of workforce and continuing education for SVCC. “The way they got behind this worthy cause so strongly and so quickly was a sight to see.”

“We’ll be able to offer this demanding, technical training beginning in March of 2016,” added Mary Jane Elkins, executive director of the SVCC Foundation. “This dream literally became a reality in less than a year, thanks to Virginia’s electric cooperatives and the Governor’s office. It’s a shining example of how a public/private partnership can and should work.”

Mecklenburg’s John Lee commented, “Young people who choose this career are truly heroes. They’re first responders who do what it takes—safely, efficiently and tenaciously—to get the power back on after storms and other outage events. This is a challenging career, but a truly fulfilling one, and we’re just delighted to have been a part of making it happen.”

Southside CEO Jeff Edwards noted that the “Day in the Life of a Lineman” program has led many students to reconsider their career plans. “Many young people will end up making this their life’s work. They’ll enjoy a wonderful career that’s more than just a job, working outdoors and helping thousands of people in their communities, providing a critically important, essential service.”

Pre-registration for non-credit classes is required. Register online at www. southside.augusoft.net. For additional assistance contact Angela McClintock at 434-949-1026 or by email at angela.mcclintock@southside.edu.

Personal Finance

February 5, 2015

Cost: FREE

Time: 12:00 pm – 1:00 pm

Lake Country Advanced Knowledge Center - 118 East Danville Street, South Hill - This seminar includes barriers and hurdles of personal finance and action steps for getting your finances in order.

Pre-registration for non-credit classes is required. Register online at www. southside.augusoft.net. For additional assistance contact Angela McClintock at 434-949-1026 or by email at Angela.mcclintock@southside.edu.

Pre-registration for non-credit classes is required. Register online at www. southside.augusoft.net. For additional assistance contact Angela McClintock at 434-949-1026 or by email at angela.mcclintock@southside.edu.

Social Security

April 8, 2015

Cost: Free

Time: 12:00 pm – 1:00 pm

Lake Country Advanced Knowledge Center

118 East Danville Street, South Hill. This workshop offers the tools to help you with one of your most important retirement decisions — when and how to claim Social Security.

Pre-registration for non-credit classes is required. Register online at www. southside.augusoft.net. For additional assistance contact Angela McClintock at 434-949-1026 or by email at angela.mcclintock@southside.edu.

On Sat., Dec. 19, The Hermie and Elliott Sadler Foundation and Feed the Children provided 400 pre-identified Emporia-area families with food and essentials.

Because hunger cannot be defeated alone, Feed the Children’s partner agencies, District 19 Community Services Board and the Family Violence and Sexual Assault Unit, have pre-identified families who will each receive a 25-pound box of food; a 10-pound box of much-needed necessities like shampoo, conditioner, lotion, and personal-care items; and a box of assorted Avon products.

This event is made possible by volunteers from the Hermie and Elliott Sadler Foundation and representatives from each local partner who helped with the distribution.

"We are proud to be from Emporia, Virginia and enjoy supporting our community. We feel blessed to have this opportunity. We first learned about Feed the Children through the Darrell and Michael Waltrip Brothers charity event and wanted the chance to bring food to families in our area. We're pleased to be able to give back this close to Christmas," said Hermie and Elliott Sadler.

“Today, we are not only providing food and necessities to these families—but also hope,” said Travis Arnold, Feed the Children Interim CEO/President and COO. “Hope for a better future that is made possible thanks to our partners at The Hermie and Elliott Sadler Foundation, District 19 Community Services Board, and Family Violence and Sexual Assault Unit, who play a vital role in helping us create a world where no child goes to bed hungry.”

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****September Meeting and Geneology Classes Cancelled****

The Greensville County Historic Society

Regular meetings are held at the

Greensville County Historic Museum,

419 S. Main Street,

at 7pm on the First Wednesday of each month.

Beginning Geneology classes are held

on the Second Thursday of each month

from 6:30 to 8:30 pm.

Donations and artifacts gladly accepted.

Please call (434)634-1219 for more information.

Church Events

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